navigating grief in high performing spaces + the 5am club

This episode of patchperfect is about something we rarely hear discussed in high performance spaces: grief. I sit down with my friend ⁠Fran⁠, a marketing leader and spin and pilates instructor, to talk about what it is really like to keep showing up at work and in life when your personal world is quietly falling apart.Fran lost both of her parents before turning 30 while building a demanding tech career, and we talk about how grief reshapes ambition, how support actually lands, and the invisible emotional and administrative work that comes with loss, from paperwork to everyday logistics.This is the patch:how grief can change your relationship with work and performancewhy "I see you" can feel more supportive than "I'm sorry"what people rarely talk about when it comes to navigating loss in professional environmentsAt its core, this episode is about making space for humanity in places that often reward pushing through, and recognizing that strength and softness are not opposites.We close with a lifestyle segment on the rituals that help Fran stay grounded, including early mornings, intentional outfits, white noise, magnesium lotion, and how one good workout class can reset your entire nervous system.If you have ever carried something heavy while still trying to perform, this conversation will feel honest, comforting, and deeply human. All views expressed are my own.