10 weeks of tears: early grief, sibling loss & holiday heartache

Handle with care. My intention is always to honor my guests’ truths, stories, their loved ones’ stories, and to deliver these heart-felt stories to you as a listener with care.Some stories are more layered than others. In this episode, we hear from a brave sister, Brittany Merz, doing everything in her power to honor her beloved sister, Samantha, who, as of this recording, passed a mere 10 weeks ago.You will hear an honest recount of the early grief days, in all of its heaviness and fogginess.You will also hear details in this story that are not apt for everyone. So if you have children around, I encourage you to save this episode for another time when you can listen more privately. If you’re in the grips of early grief or are feeling generally overwhelmed and feel the need to pause, please do so.I am not here to tell you when you’ve reached your capacity. But I want to give a gentle warning that in doing my best to honor the painful truth of this story, parts of the recount can feel overwhelming as a listener.The purpose of this podcast is to explore grief honestly and authentically, and sometimes that means sharing raw, uncomfortable, and painful truths.So as always, listen with care and honor your thresholds.As a grieving sister, I deeply empathized with Brittany’s story and completely understand her heart’s desire to share Samantha's story, create awareness about the reality of fentanyl poisonings ("Sonoma County's Silent Killer"), and share her truth as a grieving sister.I hope you feel the unconditional love through the pain.Brittany can be reached on IG @asistersgrief_siblingloss"Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe" by Laura Lynne JacksonNina Rodriguez Social & Website:Instagram: @griefandlightThreads: @griefandlightWebsite: griefandlight.comWays to Work with MeSubscribe to my newsletterDisclaimer: https://www.griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcastWant to sponsor an episode? Contact us via [email protected] us Fan MailSupport the showGrief and Light is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, and deeply human experience of loss. We're on a mission to foster a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. 🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · TalkDeath Readers' Choice Best Podcast 2025 · Women Who Podcast Awards 2025 Winner · Podground Editor's PickNew episodes wherever you watch or listen.Connect with Nina Rodriguez:griefandlight.com@griefandlightResting Grief Face on SubstackThank you for listening! If this conversation resonated with you:✅ Share this episode with someone who needs it✅ Follow Grief and Light so you never miss a conversation✅ Leave a review! It helps this podcast reach more heartsDisclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers