31: Grief Beyond Death — A Conversation with Jocelyn Barrera of The Christi Center

Send us Fan MailEpisode 31: Grief Beyond Death — A Conversation with Jocelyn Barrera of The Christi CenterIn this on-location episode in Austin, Jamal and David sit down with Jocelyn Barrera, Executive and Clinical Director of The Christi Center, to explore grief in all its forms — not just death, but displacement, illness, violence, and the quiet losses that reshape families.Jocelyn shares her journey from bilingual services coordinator to leading one of Austin’s most impactful grief support organizations. The conversation moves beyond textbook definitions of grief and into lived realities — supporting families navigating loss due to sickness, sudden violence, and even the emotional rupture caused by ICE raids and deportation. Together, they unpack how race, racism, culture, and community all shape how grief is experienced and expressed — and why peer-based support can be life-changing.This episode challenges the idea that grief is only about funerals. Sometimes grief looks like fear. Sometimes it looks like separation. Sometimes it looks like carrying a weight no one else can see. And in every case, connection matters.Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real. Thank you for your support!Hosts: David McClain & Jamal JonesGuest:  Jocelyn Barrera, Executive Director of The Christi CenterExecutive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions)Editing: Marlon JacksonMusic: Grenada, "Treasure" McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.comThank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast