Grief Unedited: Finding Hope, Humor, and Healing with Sam Tschritter (Ep. 268)

Tonight I sat down with author and speaker Sam Tschritter for a raw, honest conversation about grief, healing, and hope. We explored how loss reshapes identity, why there’s no cookie‑cutter timeline for grieving, and the power of giving ourselves and others grace. Sam shared the winding path behind Love Unedited, her early work supporting miscarriage and infant‑loss parents, and her profoundly difficult new book, The Prodigal Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak—her late husband’s story of addiction, relapse, pastoral ministry, cancer, and radical grace. We laughed through the heaviness, talked about blending humor with hard truth, and highlighted how real life’s small moments can carry us through the darkest seasons.We also dug into common misunderstandings about grief, the unhelpful things people say, and what actually helps: listening, presence, and patience. Sam’s core message is simple and needed—you’re not alone. For anyone walking through loss or supporting someone who is, this episode offers empathy, candor, and a reminder that grief isn’t the end of your story; it’s a chapter on the way to purpose and hope. Guest: S.E. Tschritterhttps://loveunedited.comhttps://Linktr.ee/LoveSamEvans.Watch and Follow on:https://Rumble.com/JoeRoozhttps://YouTube.com/@JoeRooz   Watch LIVE tonight at 7PM CT Rumble.com/JoeRooz YouTube.com/@JoeRooz FOLLOW US ON:X: https://x.com/joeroozFacebook: https://facebook.com/joeroozshowTwitch TV: https://twitch.tv/joeroozInstagram: https://instagram.com/notjoeroozTikTok: https://tiktok.com/joe.roozMinds: https://minds.com/joeroozGETTR: https://gettr.com/joeroozSpecial thanks to:Executive Producer Wayne RankinExecutive Producer Rosanna RankinExecutive Producer Carolina JimenezExecutive Producer Angela WetuskiExecutive Producer John SeeleyWant to be a guest on The Joe Rooz Show?Send Joe a message on #PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/joeCheck out our partners:Podhome.fmCreative EdgeMusic: https://youtube.com/@pogo️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5724294587940864(00:01:09) Opening from Asylum Studios and Friday setup(00:02:58) Returning to the original intro and Friday vibes in Eagle Pass(00:03:54) Week recap, family time plans, and show housekeeping(00:04:47) How to connect, live schedule, and platform preference(00:07:47) Guest intro: Sam Schritter on grief, loss, and hope(00:08:41) Warm‑up banter, quirks, and humor before the heavy topics(00:11:02) Host’s cascade of losses and setting the tone on grief(00:12:32) Grace in grief and what made Sam a storyteller(00:14:10) Author vs. writer, platforms, and identity shifts(00:15:37) From miscarriages to Grief Unedited and LoveUnedited(00:16:55) Daily life, teens, and parenting through grief(00:20:00) Misunderstandings of grief and giving grace(00:23:50) Live show hiccups and rolling with imperfections(00:27:17) Dogs, kids, and finding levity amid heaviness(00:27:19) Leadership in the church and learning to listen(00:31:02) Writing others’ stories and blending humor with pain(00:33:34) Sticky moments: levity in loss and oncology quips(00:38:20) Football, family anecdotes, and shared laughter(00:38:46) Hardest book: Prodigal Son and telling the dark truth(00:41:06) Why stay, judgment, and cards people don’t see(00:45:03) Relapse, discovery of cancer, and strained support(00:47:05) Interviews as counseling and home life interludes(00:53:04) New work, back‑cover read, and opening church doors(00:55:00) Plan to revisit after reading and tech delay laughs(00:55:39) Sucker‑punch comments and boundaries in grief(00:58:23) Identity after loss, names, and who am I now(01:00:35) Mentors matter: shout‑out to author Terry Whalin(01:03:10) Where to find Sam and newsletter bonus(01:04:00) Backstage wrap and host’s closing setup(01:07:24) Producers, support tiers, and final reflections on grief - Joe "Rooz" Russiello - Marisa Lee - Wayne Rankin - Rosanna Rankin - Angela Wetuski - Carolina Jimenezhttps://www.joerooz.com/supporthttps://www.joerooz.com