The Neuroscience of Grief (Part 1): The Science of Grief How Loss Reshapes the Brain and Body with Dr. D'Marti Burgos

Grief isn’t just emotional—it’s neurological. In this first part of a two-part series, host Julienne Irons speaks with Dr. D’Marti Burgos, a physician with deep expertise in neuroscience, to uncover what really happens to the brain and body when we grieve. Dr. Burgos explains how grief reshapes neural pathways, why our responses feel so unpredictable, and the difference between grief and depression. The conversation also explores the many forms of grief beyond bereavement—anticipatory, disenfranchised, digital, and ecological—and the physical toll grief can take, from fatigue to chronic pain. This episode lays the scientific groundwork for understanding grief as a whole-body experience. In part two, we’ll continue the conversation with Dr. Burgos as we turn toward childhood, collective, and generational trauma—and how we can begin to heal it. Episode Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Grief 01:25 Sponsor Message: 3 of Cups 02:25 Welcoming Dr. D'Marti Burgos 03:39 Understanding Grief from a Neuroscientific Perspective 06:17 The Brain's Learning and Unlearning Process 16:05 Grief vs. Depression 19:23 Exploring Different Types of Grief 31:28 Sponsor Message: Healing After Loss 32:57 Coping with Disenfranchised Grief 34:53 Physical and Emotional Manifestations of Grief 38:14 Why Grief Resurfaces 39:35 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser