Getting Real with Grief

On this episode Randi interviews Julia Walden of Jules in Space about the importance of the environment that a ritual is held in and how aesthetic beauty can set the tone for deeper more meaningful ritual. They also delve into themes of the essential nature of community and connection in grief work, as well as explore the lost art of mothering and communing together, and ways that Julia is working to reignite this spark through her project- The Sanctuary Home. Finally- they discuss an upcoming event- reimagining the celebration of Mother’s Day, coming this Mother’s Day weekend 2026You can connect with Julia on Instagram at @julesinspace or @thesanctuaryhome

On today’s episode, Randi sits down with Joe Dillon of Equitable Mediation Services. Alongside his wife, Cheryl, Joe helps couples navigate divorce through a peaceful, fair, and personalized mediation process.Joe shares how experiencing his own parents’ divorce as a child inspired his mission to help families do things differently, especially when children are involved. His work focuses on reducing conflict, preserving dignity, and breaking cycles of generational trauma.https://www.equitablemediation.com/

On this episode, Randi sits down with Kate Manser of Polyamory Therapy to explore the complexities of non-monogamous relationships, especially around charged moments like Valentine’s Day and other meaningful occasions. These days often ask us to “pick” one person, but Randi and Kate unpack ways to thoughtfully attune to each partnership’s needs and values, while also holding clear boundaries and making tender, sometimes tricky choices rooted in what truly matters to you. Whether or not you celebrate Valentine’s Day, this conversation offers grounded tools, reflections, and ideas for showing care across multiple relationships in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.

Sometimes New Year celebrations can be painful. It's a marker of time passing and life moving forward. After loss, this can feel like salt in the wounds. On this episode, Randi reflect son meaningful and practical ways we can honor what we've lost while moving forward in 2026.

The holidays can amplify grief in ways that feel tender, isolating, and overwhelming. In this episode, Randi explores the layered realities of holiday grief, including the invisible weight many of us are carrying, the expectations we’re navigating, and the ache of moving through traditions that no longer feel the same. Alongside honest reflection, she offers grounding tools, gentle practices, and permission-based tips to help you tend to your grief with care and compassion throughout this complex season.

On this episode, Randi and Kat Glick, M. Ed, LPC, LCADC, ACS, SAP get into the grief that comes from having living family members who can't or won't change. They get into the different ways family members are unable to make changes- addiction, health related improvements, acceptance of sexual orientations, gender identities, differing political view and more. They also outline how to show up differently in ways that preserve mental well being, as well as provide tips for how to handle the holiday season when it comes to visiting stressful family members and dynamics.

On this episode, Randi talks about anger- you know, that often misunderstood and suppressed, yet very valid emotion we all feel. She dives in to how to understand what anger is signaling to us, as well as healthy and effective ways to express it.

On this episode, Randi connects us with the Mama Milk Therapist! Alyssa Hansen is the brilliant woman who combined perinatal mental health services with lactation consulting to help new parents all along their feeding journey, including the ups, downs, challenges, and joys that comes with feeding infants. They also get into the tenderness of mothering after losing your own mother. This one is for all the mamas out there who are navigating the whole complex landscape of emotions that come with new motherhood and the co-parents and family members who support them!

Have you ever experienced something that required you to put life on hold? A new baby, a loss, or a change? Big trip or move? On this episode, Rnadi dives into what happens after that thing. On the other side of the big shift that took you away. She explores that tension between longing for space to integrate and slowly recenter society at our own pace, while simujltaneously being lured back in to the regular grind one email, one meeting, one tempting paycheck, or guilt trip about productivity at a time. And then once we're back in, its' so so much harder to pull back out to honor all the transformation that just took place. Check out this episode for ways to honor yourself and slow this process down!

On this episode Randi goes deep with Dr. Yakir Englander as they discuss the power and potential of grieving as a collective. They describe specific ways to utilize the wisdom of your ancestry to honor all that we are holding and healing from in the present. They also touch on the impact of gender, culture, international turmoil, and national celebration of what is most important to us and for us. You won’t want to miss this deep dive as they get into the heart of what truly matters as we make meaning of all we’re holding as a collective.

In this heartfelt episode, we explore Legacy Love — the powerful, lasting bonds we carry with those we've lost. Randi goes through her specially designed course that offers compassionate tools for navigating loss, honoring memories, and healing through connection.

On this episode, we will be discussing how to honor a Matriarch. We'll be getting what it means to lead, to lose, and to carry her legacy forward. We'll also be sharing practical ways to acknowledge her impact and appreciate all she has been and done for her family and the world. Additionally, I want to note that, while we refer to the matriarch int eh episode using she/her pronouns, anyone with any gender identity can be a Matriarch.

In this week's episode, Sonja and I connect about the beautiful and complex intertwining of grief and love. This conversation with @bodystoryteller delves into rewriting the narrative, choosing ourselves, and allowing joy and expansion to take up space. Tune in for more about letting go, what holds us back, and how to step into what sets us free.

On this episode we learn about "The Change Dance", a body positive dance studio. We talk about family legacies and passions passed down through generations. We also get into the beauty and meaning of creating something in someone's honor, and how healing it can be to memorialize someone beloved in this way.

Continuing on the subject of Pet Loss, I brought the incredible Cara DeLaRosa to join me for this next conversation. In this episode Cara offers guidance on making end of life decisions for our beloved animal family members, including quality of life evaluations, palliative care, hospice options, and euthanasia. There is a special bond between humans and animals, and Cara works to make sure that bond is honored on both sides. This episode will show you how!

On this episode, I'll be talking about the loss of my dear fur baby and friend, Mr. Stanley. I will also get into the subject of pet loss and how it impacts us. I will get into feelings of guilt or helplessness, and making decisions we hope were for the best.

On this episode, I had the incredible privilege to connect with a kindred spirit in the realms of grief work: Ari Simon. They are a facilitator, coach, grief care leader, writer, and founder of Grief at Work – a program delivering tools and teachings in grief & loss competency to teams, communities, and leaders. We get into a variety of topics including their personal grief story and  their work with the intersectionality of gender inclusion, climate action, mental health and well-being, workplace mission and value setting, and of course grieving. This was a JUICYYY one. You won’t want to miss this!

On this episode, you’ll get acquainted with one of the most helpful tools for bringing in attuned support when you are grieving: my personalized CHEAT SHEET! I’ll share about this important resource and walk you through step by step so you can provide the people who care about you most with specific and helpful ways to support you when you are going through a hard time. This streamlines the process of getting clear on what you need, when you need it, and easily provides answers and directions for the question many people ask: “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” You won’t want to miss this episode.

In this episode, our guest Erika Zebedeo talks about something our society almost NEVER addresses: how it’s possible to love your kids…while ALSO hating parts of motherhood (such as your changing body, the loss of autonomy, the isolation, and postpartum anxiety and depression). Throughout the conversation we get REAL, open, and honest about the things that most people don't admit or say aloud when it comes to early parenthood. We also get into the deep love we have for our kids, as well as how to model self love so our kids can learn to love themselves.

In this episode, we're talking about the shift hat comes with transitioning (for a second time) from working professional to full-time mom. It's a mix of joy, grief, and everything in between. We talk about how to feel it all- the loss, the change, the unknowns, and explore what coming to back to professional life might be like. I'll be different, my business might be different, and that's okay. This is about giving yourself permission to grow, change, and see where this journey takes you.

TRIGGER WARNING: tragic death and suicide This episode is a deeply moving conversation with Katrina of “Loving Ouroboros” that I can’t wait for you to hear. It’s a story of great loss, as well as of alchemy. Katrina transformed her grief and saw her losses and her life’s challenges as an opportunity to bring to the world her organization, Loving Ouroboros that helps prioritize the sacredness of dying (and living) on your own terms. We talk about profound life long loss through tragedy, illness, and suicide. We get into becoming a death doula, about supporting a terminally ill parent, and about making her mark in the world serving in the way she believes is most important. It’s a story full of layers, heartache, and, surprisingly, beauty. I hope you’ll find it as powerful as I did.

In this special episode, Randi shares her experiences navigating a variety of different kinds of parental losses, and describes the different kinds of parent figures and primary caregivers that count when navigating parent loss. She also outlines "Legacy Loss", the Parent and Caregiver Loss Support Program, sharing ways to bring intention and meaning to the excruciating journey of losing a primary attachment figure.

On this episode we’re breaking down break ups. We’ll be getting into all the things that make breakups so complicated and painful to grieve and what to do about them. Then we’ll get into what you can do to help when you want to cultivate a more meaningful and intentional ending and create a sense of real closure that allows you to move into future relationships less burdened and more available for your next chapter.

On this episode we’ll get to to hear the wisdom of Ken Barringer, a long time grief expert, and get a better understanding of what grief looks like and how you can support others (or yourself) if you are grieving. We get into mind, body, soul, and dispel some of the rumors and myths spread by our grief averse society, and talk about what it’s like to be grief support specialists. Ken Barringer has worked in the field of mental health since 1984 and specifically in the areas of grief and loss since 1996. His grief therapy practice supports adolescents and adults individually, in groups, and families. And I had the great honor of getting to have this incredible conversation with him! Give it a listen!

In this very special episode, Randi shares about the experience of moving through a most poignant moment in her grief journey- the day her daughter was the same age she was when her parents died. This episode goes deep, sharing intimate moments and memories. It also covers a whole spectrum of ways to make meaning of significant grief milestones as well as touches into the array of intentions, experiences, and emotions that arose throughout the day. May this provide some guidance and inspiration to you about making the most of the important milestone days in your life.

On this episode, we discuss a step-by-step guide for how to respond and what to do when life throws unexpected curveballs our way. As they say people plan, and the universe laughs…well this episode will help you navigate when a challenge arises that catches you off guard or that you weren’t preparing for.

This episode's guest is Viv La Queer! Join us as we explore the ways that Grief, Kink and BDSM, plant medicine, music and shadow work overlap and can be used to promote healing.

We all grieve more than we realize. There are many situations in our lives that count as grief that often pass us by without giving it the thought or attention it deserves. Tune in to listen to the broad spectrum of things we grieve, why it matters, and how to use this info to change the very fabric of our society for the better.

For our first grief story, I'm sharing mine! Get ready for the real and raw history that was my catalyst for creating Realness Rising. Listen in as my friend Gabe DeRita holds space for me to share the ways grief has broken me open and rebuilt me whole.

We've all been there, the moment when someone tells you about a loss or challenge they're navigating and we think "I have no idea what to say or do right now. I don't want to get it wrong or cause anymore hurt!" This episode has got you covered.

Whether you know it or not, we all have this in common, just because we're alive. This episode is a letter from my soul and an impassioned plea to consider making space for the losses we're all feeling in our lives and to reexamine how we hold these universal experiences with one another. This episode is also filled with words to the wise and expert tips for navigating grief and loss when its your turn. We're all going through it, so we might as well do it together. You don't have to hold it alone.

Realness Rising is excited to bring you Getting Real with Grief- the podcast that is here to help you feel guided and supported in your grief, and to help you feel more comfortable and confident supporting others when they are going through hard times. This podcast is also here to normalize sharing our stories, connect you with resources, explore the ways that grief can become an epic catalyst for inspiring positive change in the world.