Giving Grief Grace

One year. 52 episodes. 62 countries and territories. 454 cities. Thank you for a year of grace, gratitude, and being part of this grief journey. In this special solo anniversary episode, Lisa Hartung pauses to celebrate what Giving Grief Grace has become. She reflects honestly on the time commitment, what it gave back, and who the show supports.Lisa shares the origin story behind the podcast: the week her firstborn arrived was the same week her mother, Emily, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a year to live. What followed was a year of caring for a newborn and a dying parent. It was also the birth of a mission to make sure no one had to navigate grief alone.In this milestone episode, Lisa reflects on:The guests who shaped year one: from hospice nurses and end-of-life doulas to grief counselors, artists, authors, and cancer survivorsThe most downloaded episode (Emily’s Final Wish: A Visit to Monet’s Garden)The very real, unglamorous side of solo podcasting (including a toilet overflow, two sick kids, and a husband out of town)What grief has taught her about loneliness, showing up, and becoming your  own cheerleaderWhat’s ahead for Season 2: retreats, community events, animal grief, and moreIf you’ve been listening since episode one, thank you! If you've been a guest on the show, THANK YOU! If you’re brand new, welcome to the community. Either way, you belong here.📧 [email protected] | 🎙️ podcast.lisahartung.com 📱 Instagram: @GivingGriefGrace | Facebook: Giving Grief GraceSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What if the simplest thing you did today — curling up the corners of your mouth — could make you feel even 1% better? In this solo episode, host Lisa Hartung laces up her running shoes and shares a reflection born from the road: smiles are free, they cost nothing, and they might be exactly what a stranger needs today.Lisa talks about the science behind smiling, how the physical act of smiling, even a forced one, can shift your emotional state. She shares her personal mission to make at least one TSA agent smile every time she passes through airport security, and how running through neighborhoods, waving and smiling at fellow people exercising, walking their dogs, or chatting with friends, fills her with joy.For anyone living alone or isolated in grief, Lisa reminds us that a genuine smile and a warm "thank you" to your pharmacist or grocery cashier might be the most meaningful human connection you have that day. It is a simple act that really matters. Don't rush past it. Cherish the moment. If you are sitting with someone who is deep in grief, you don't have to have the right words. Show up. Smile. Be present. That is enough.How many smiles will you give to others this week?Stay tuned. Episode 52 is coming next week and it's a BIG one: one full year of Giving Grief Grace! 🎉Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

According to A Haven, one in five children will experience the death of someone close to them before they graduate high school. That means grief is already in your classroom, your neighborhood, and your faith/athletic/artistic community, whether you can see it or not. Many well-meaning people surrounding that grieving child have no idea how to show up.In this final episode of our A Haven mini-series, Lisa sits down with Carrie Silver, Clinical Director of A Haven, a free child and family grief center in Exton, Pennsylvania, to talk about the village it takes to truly support a grieving child.Carrie walks us through what teachers and school counselors can do right now for the grieving student in their building, why pushing for counseling too soon can actually backfire, and how grief groups at school give children something a 1:1 setting cannot fully replicate — the relief of knowing they are not the only one, they have a supportive community to lean on. We also talk about what grief looks like across different types of loss including suicide, violence, and anticipatory grief, and how to hold space for each with care.For friends, neighbors, and community members, Carrie shares something beautifully practical: you never need permission to remember someone's person. A text. A calendar reminder set in advance. A message that says, "baseball season started and I thought of your dad." These small, consistent acts of remembrance are what grieving families carry with them long after the casseroles and cards stop coming.Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a friend, or simply someone who loves a grieving family and wants to show up well, this episode will give you the language, the posture, and the courage to do it.Check out the other episodes in this series:Episode 45 - It's Okay to Say Died: How to Talk to Children About Death at Any AgeEpisode 49 - The Whole Family Grieves: Supporting Every Child in the House, Even When They Grieve DifferentlyConnect with A Haven: ahaven.org | Instagram: @ahaven.chesterco | LinkedIn & Facebook: A Haven | Email: Carrie Silver, Clinical Director [email protected] us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Grief doesn't arrive at the door of a family and touch everyone the same way. One child draws. Another runs. Another goes silent. And somewhere in the middle of it all is a caregiver trying to hold everyone together while barely holding it together themselves.In this episode, Lisa sits down again with Carrie Silver of A Haven, a free child and family grief center in Exton, Pennsylvania, to talk about what it really looks like when a whole family grieves. We explore why siblings can experience the same loss so differently, and why research shows that how a caregiver grieves is a huge factor in how a child grieves.Carrie walks us through the creative and embodied ways A Haven supports grieving children — from movement and art to circle time — and why these approaches reach children in ways that words alone often can't. We also talk about the power of community: what it means for a grieving family to sit in a room with other families who simply understand and "get it," helping each other on this journey, regardless of age.  Whether you're a parent navigating loss alongside your children, an educator supporting a grieving student, or someone who loves a grieving family and wants to show up well, this conversation is for you.A Haven offers free grief support groups for children ages 3–25 and their families. Learn more at ahaven.org and see the extensive book list for additional resources! Check out our first conversation of the series with Carrie Silver here:Episode 45 - It's Okay to Say Died: How to Talk to Children About Death at Any Age with Carrie Silver of A HavenSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Easter has a way of cracking grief wide open. In this solo episode, Lisa shares a raw and vulnerable reflection on how the season of resurrection intersects with loss.From waking up before dawn in a small Maine town to sing "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" on a hillside with her mom, to attending Duke Chapel's sunrise service the year after her mother Emily passed, Lisa walks us through the traditions that keep her mother's memory alive. She also shares about the moment a hymn lyric brought her to her knees, and the friend who held her through it.She also shares the beautiful cycle of grief and new life: her own daughter now old enough to pack a thermos of hot chocolate and head to the garden for sunrise Easter service. History, as Lisa says, repeats itself.Lisa also introduces something new - Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: a 12-week journey into creativity she's embarking on with a community of women, and why she believes unblocking our creativity is one of the most powerful tools we have to move through grief. If you've felt stuck, joyless, or creatively frozen in your grief, this episode is for you. To join the 12 week workshop, email [email protected] or DM @givinggriefgrace on Instagram. All are welcome! The workshop kicks off on Monday, April 6, 2026.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What happens when a man is diagnosed with a disease the world has decided belongs to women? Jake Messier, known as @theguywithstage4breastcancer, is living that answer every single day. After a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 progressed to metastatic disease in August 2025, Jake turned his 30-year marketing career into a mission: building the largest male breast cancer community in the world and refusing to let men suffer in silence.In this conversation, Jake opens up about finding a lump while putting on deodorant and brushing it off because no one had ever taught him that men could get breast cancer, too. He discusses the nearly year-long ordeal of four inconclusive biopsies, the moment he got the call that changed everything, and how he has recorded his experience from the highs to the vulnerable lows. We dig into the toxic masculinity that literally keeps men out of treatment rooms, the staggering fact that very little funding is specifically dedicated to male breast cancer, and what it means to plant trees you'll never sit in the shade of. Jake also shares the story of a man who hid his breast cancer for 14 years and why Jake's platform finally made him feel brave enough to call himself a survivor.This episode is for anyone who has ever loved someone with cancer and didn't know what to say, and for every man who went on with his day when he should have made a call.Find Jake online:Website: theguywithstage4breastcancer.comInstagram & TikTok : @theguywithstage4breastcancer LinkedIn: Jake Messier Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What do you do with your grief when you've spent 25 years as a nurse helping families through their hardest moments and then overnight, you become the family in need? That's the journey Kelly Edmondson found herself on three years ago when she lost her oldest son, Darius, to epilepsy in his sleep. Kelly shares how that loss became the catalyst for Timely Presence, a year-long grief support service built on the belief that grief outlasts sympathy, and so should the support.Drawing on her nursing background in trauma, ICU, and the ER, her certification in grief counseling, and the lived experience of losing a child, Kelly walks us through what meaningful support looks like in the months that follow a loss, including the gifts that do what words simply cannot. Wind chimes on birthdays, preserved roses on Mother's Day, and engraved memory boxes arriving right after the service. Kelly also shares the story of a crystal sun catcher that turned one bereaved mother's darkest day into one full of color and light.We dig into grief in the workplace: what colleagues get wrong, what they can do better, and why showing up doesn't require a script. Kelly also opens up about anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, and what she discovered when she crossed from the clinical side of loss to the deeply personal side.This is an episode about presence, celebrating a loved one's legacy, and letting the family know: I still remember. You are not alone.Visit Timely Presence online; Instagram; Facebook Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What do you say when a child asks, "Is Mommy coming back?" This week, Lisa sits down with Carrie Silver, Clinical Director of A Haven, a nonprofit child and family grief center in Exton, Pennsylvania, to explore one of the most important and often-avoided conversations we can have with the children in our lives: talking honestly about death. Carrie brings both professional expertise and compassion as she walks us through why using real language like the words died, death, dead, is one of the greatest gifts we can give a grieving child. Softer phrases like "passed away," "went to sleep," or "we lost them" can unintentionally create confusion, anxiety, and even shame in young minds still learning how the world works.This is the first episode of a mini-series with A Haven about how to support and talk to children about death and dying. In this episode, you'll learn:Why the #1 factor in how a child grieves is how their caregiver grievesWhat normative grief looks like at every developmental stage — from age 3 through young adulthoodHow to approach these conversations as a "side-by-side" activity rather than a face-to-face talkRed flags (and orange flags) that signal a child may need additional supportThe power of keeping rituals, memories, and stories alive, and why talking about and asking questions about a loved one is always a gift, even if it causes tearsFree resources available through A Haven for families everywhereWhether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or grief professional, this episode offers tangible, take-home wisdom for supporting the youngest grievers in your community and yourself.Resources:A Haven: free printable grief resources and consultations availableJudi's House: comprehensive grief care for children and families and their CBEM Model for national data on children's grief by regionSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this episode, Lisa sits down with her grandfather, Alton "Honky" Hartung who recently turned 97 and is still living alone and driving! Honky is a living piece of American history who has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.Born and raised on a farm in Manchester, Maine, Honky takes us back to a simpler time, describing what it was like working as a meat cutter at the local market. He shares stories of traveling around the US with his wife of 66 years, Alice Williams Hartung. His most prized possession is his 1929 Model A Ford - tune in to hear how he got his nickname "Honky!" He is one of those people who you just have to mention his name and friends get a smile on their face and have their own Honky story to tell. This episode is a reminder that the greatest stories often come from the people sitting right across the dinner table. Honky's lived wisdom, humor, and wit are unparalleled and he is still raising hell every day. We are here for it! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week, we welcome back Melanie Ezell — writer, mother, yogi, and surfer from the North Shore of Oʻahu — to celebrate the release of her new book, INHERITED: A Life Without a Cure. Diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer at a young age, Melanie has shared honestly and been a luminous voice on grief, mortality, and the art of being present.Melanie unpacks the layered meaning behind the title INHERITED. From the BRCA1 mutation passed down from her father to the cultural and spiritual messages she absorbed about shame, worthiness, and productivity, and how she is now consciously choosing what to pass on to her five-year-old son, Velzy.The conversation moves through the surprising gifts that come from a terminal diagnosis: releasing resentment without moral superiority, stepping down from the judge's seat entirely, the freedom of radical acceptance, and how surfing chest-high waves under a double rainbow can be every bit as meaningful as charging big swells.Melanie also shares a vulnerable and recent update. Her cancer markers have recently jumped, a stronger round of chemo may be ahead. What she actually needs from the people she loves when fear sets in is not reassurances or solutions, but simple presence. The following words are what Melanie shared she needs to hear most. For listeners who know someone journeying through illness or for caregivers and individuals themselves, these words can change your relationship:I hear you, I'm listening. This makes me feel ____, and I'm here for you. Talk as much as you want, tell me anything you want,  and I will sit here until you don't need my presence anymore.Whether you're living with a terminal illness, walking alongside someone who is, or simply searching for a more present, heart-centered way to move through this life, this episode will stay with you long after you listen.Pre-order Melanie's book: INHERITED: A Life without a Cure melanieezell.com | Amazon (e-book pre-order) Follow Melanie: @yogasurfmel on Instagram Substack: Melanie Ezell Please consider supporting Melanie on her cancer journey as she prepares to release her legacy book for her son.  GoFundMe If you want to hear more about Melanie's journey, listen to Giving Grief Grace's Episode 24: Living Fully with Stage 4 ovarian Cancer: The Freedom of Letting Go  or watch it on YouTube. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this bittersweet finale of the Ash Rose Project series, host Lisa Hartung and artist/Executive Director of the Ash Rose Foundation, Ian McCartor close out their 30-day grief journey with a conversation full of hope, whimsy, and renewal. The conversation was recorded, fittingly, on Ash Wednesday.Week 4's theme is Looking Toward the Future: Continuing the Legacy and Embracing Hope. As Ian puts the finishing touches on a one-of-a-kind portrait made with Emily Hartung's ashes, Lisa reflects on what this project has meant for her healing and what she hopes it will mean for others.Together Ian and Lisa explore the transformative power of curiosity in grief, why asking open-ended questions beats the usual platitudes, and how art becomes a talisman that keeps our loved ones present in everyday life. Lisa shares the legacy traditions she'll carry forward from "Emily's Planting & Blooming Day" at the Farmington Public Library in Maine to a memorial bench at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Maine and even hints at two books she hopes to write in her mother's honor.The episode closes with a passage from Wordsworth's I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, inscribed on a wind chime for Emily, and a reminder that there is always a path to spring again. A wonderful representation of the cycle of life. A grand reveal episode is coming during the first week of spring — stay tuned!Catch up on the full Ash Rose Project series:Intro Week - When The Artist Becomes the Art: Episode 38 Week 1 – Honoring the Past: Episode 39 Week 2 – Processing Grief Through Creation: Episode 40  Week 3 – Finding Meaning in the Present: Episode 41 Visit the Ash Rose Foundation at TheAshRose.org for more information and to sign up for your own Ash Rose Project to celebrate a loved one who has passed. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In Week 3 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, host Lisa Hartung continues her 30-day grief journey with Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation.This week centers on finding meaning in the present moment. Lisa and Ian discuss integrating remembrance and creative exploration from the first two weeks into a grounded sense of healing, hope, and transformation.Lisa reflects on what it has felt like to send her mother’s ashes to be incorporated into a memorial portrait, and how the guided journaling and weekly conversations have helped her feel closer to her mom. Allowing her the opportunity to celebrate her mom's essence through storytelling, memory, and art.Together, Lisa and Ian explore:How creativity opens new pathways in griefThe role of journaling and expression in emotional healingSigns, symbols, and moments of connection with loved onesThe beauty of nature as a mirror for life, death, and renewalWhy “creating”, not just consuming, helps grief and energy move through the bodyLisa shares a story about her mother’s hibiscus plant blooming in the middle of winter which is a vivid reminder of presence, new life, and love that continues to surround and uplift.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, embrace vulnerability, and witness how creative expression can transform grief into intimacy, meaning, and even joy.If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In Week 2 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Lisa continues her personal grief journey with Ian McCartor, Founder of the Ash Rose Foundation. They move from honoring the past in Week 1 to processing grief in the present through creativity.As Ian begins sketching the portrait in her mother’s honor using her ashes, this week’s conversation explores what it means to actively create while grieving.Lisa reflects on the emotions that have surfaced since beginning the project: sadness, gratitude, loneliness, and the tension between letting go and holding on. Together, she and Ian discuss how creative expression allows space for the full spectrum of grief from the light to the dark, and why both are essential for healing.They explore powerful metaphors of winter, stillness, and the “quiet before the bloom,” examining how grief can feel dormant yet truly transformative beneath the surface.Lisa shares:The emotional complexity of sending her mother’s ashes for the artworkHow legacy-building reshapes her griefThe loneliness that can accompany lossReturning to joy after deep sorrowThe role of community, service, and storytelling in healingThis episode is a reflection on release, trust, and the sacred act of becoming. It serves as a reminder that even in the coldest seasons of grief, something within us is still blooming.If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In Week 1 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation and Lisa Hartung begin the most emotionally intense part of the journey: honoring the past.This episode centers on reflection. Of memories, values, rituals, and the everyday moments that continue to shape us after loss. As Ian begins the artistic process of creating an ash portrait, Lisa walks through the first week of journaling prompts designed to deepen connection with her mother and gently “till the soil” of grief.Through vivid storytelling, Lisa shares cherished memories of painting with her mother "en plein air," a girl's trip to Italy, road trips through Maine, being in the garden with her mom, and the small daily routines she misses most such as bedtime rituals, phone calls, games, and laughter. Together, Lisa and Ian explore how memory transforms grief, how rituals can be carried forward into the next generation, and how reflection allows the past to inform hope for the future.Week 1 is raw, messy, and sacred, just like sketching before a painting takes form or preparing the soil for planting seeds in the garden. This episode invites listeners to witness how grief can be honored, felt fully, and woven into the present with intention, beauty, and love.To learn more about the Ash Rose Foundation, head to theashrose.org. You can sign up for your own Ash Rose Project in honor of a loved one! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we welcome back Ian McCartor, Founder and Executive Director of the Ash Rose Foundation, for a first-ever behind the scenes exploration of the Ash Rose Project. This episode marks the kickoff of Lisa’s own Ash Rose Project, a sacred 30-day grief journey that culminates in the creation of a memorial portrait made using her mother’s ashes. Together, Lisa and Ian invite listeners into the intimate beginnings of this process, offering a rare glimpse into how art, ritual, reflection, and community can become powerful vehicles for healing.Ian shares the philosophy behind the Ash Rose Project and its intentionally intimate, one-person/family-at-a-time approach. He invites Lisa to share about her mother who was an artist, teacher, gardener, and joy-bringer whose legacy lives on through water lilies, garden blooms, birds, heart rocks, and the magic of everyday beauty. From Monet’s garden to Maine summers, from chemo-chair sketches to planting a thousand flower bulbs, this conversation explores how love continues, transforms, and becomes something new as time passes.If you’ve ever wondered what it might look like to honor grief creatively, to stay in relationship with someone who has died, or to witness healing rather than rush it, this episode is for you. If you're interested in getting involved with the Ash Rose Foundation, or would like to honor your loved and continue your healing grief journey by partaking in your own 30-day Ash Rose Project, please visit theashrose.org. We'll be back next week to review the questions and discuss the experience of Week 1 of the Project!Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What kind of support actually helps after loss—and what role does community play in healing? Everyone is different and has their own unique grief journey. In this episode, the original Giving Grief Grace small grief group comes together for an honest conversation about the power of grief group support after losing a parent. Together, they explore how connection, vulnerability, and shared experience can create a healing space that feels both deeply personal and profoundly supportive.Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at what a small grief group truly offers—from weekly check-ins and grounding rituals to storytelling, breathwork, and the comfort of being understood without needing to explain. Members of the group just "get it" on a level few others understand. The group reflects on parenting while grieving, honoring loved ones through traditions and memories, navigating anniversaries and holidays, and learning to care for yourself in seasons when grief feels overwhelming.This episode is for anyone wondering if a grief support group might help, feeling isolated in their loss, or longing for community that allows grief to be expressed honestly and held with compassion. This group is a safe space for all the feelings! You don’t have to have the right words, you just show up as you are. While many participants have never met in real life (only online), you feel a sense of comfort and deep connection because you've been in the trenches together and worked through the emotions as a group. When does the next small grief group start?Tuesday, February 10 - March 17th (6 weeks, every Tuesday night)8:30 - 9:30pm ET via ZoomFor listeners looking to join, send a DM to @givinggriefgrace on Instagram or email [email protected]. You are not alone! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What happens when you know something is wrong—but no one is listening?In this episode, Lisa sits down with Amy Johnston, a 34-year-old mom of three and stage 3 pancreatic cancer survivor, to share the story that changed her life. After months of unexplained symptoms, dismissed concerns, and “normal” test results, Amy refused to settle for reassurance that didn’t sit right. That decision ultimately led to an MRI that revealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma—and saved her life. Amy walks us through the emotional whiplash of receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis at such a young age, advocating for herself in a complex medical system, seeking second opinions, and finding the right specialist. She shares what it was like undergoing major surgery, completing 12 rounds of full-dose FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, and parenting three young children through treatment—while still trying to preserve normalcy and create magic for the kids at home.This conversation offers rare honesty about chemo side effects, fear, anxiety, medical frustrations, and the importance of being your own advocate. Amy reflects on how cancer has reshaped her relationship with time, joy, and the present moment.Whether you are part of the pancreatic cancer community, caring for someone with cancer, navigating medical uncertainty, or walking through grief alongside motherhood, this episode is a reminder that your voice matters and persistence can save your life. Your intuition is often valid! ✨ Topics covered:Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer in young adultsSelf-advocacy and second opinionsDistal pancreatectomy vs. Whipple procedureFOLFIRINOX chemotherapy side effectsParenting through cancer treatmentPreserving holiday magic during illnessHope, resilience, and living in the presentSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What does grief look like when it begins with leaving home?In this episode, artist and musician Jacqueline van Bierk shares her extraordinary life story of escaping communist East Germany as a teenager just weeks before the Berlin Wall fell, leaving her parents behind with no way to know if they’d ever reunite.Jacqueline opens up about growing up in a controlled, black-and-white world, her daring escape through Prague, and the emotional weight of choosing freedom while risking everything. She reflects on how displacement shaped her identity, her lifelong “gypsy” spirit, and her eventual move to the United States which is where she found both creative freedom and a sense of home.Jacqueline vulnerably shares about the loss of her father, flying across the world to say goodbye, and returning to the stage just days later to perform through her heartbreak. She also speaks honestly about grieving from the US while her mother remains in Germany. Jacqueline has supported her mother through multiple losses, illness, cancer, and actually moved back to Germany to be her caregiver during COVID. “After taking care of my mom during the pandemic, I packed whatever I could fit in my car and began a completely new chapter.” - JVBThis episode explores:Escaping East Germany before the Berlin Wall fellGrief, freedom, and identity as an immigrantLosing a parent while living abroadCaregiving from a distanceThe complex emotions of guilt, anger, numbness, and acceptanceHow music, creativity, and purpose became lifelines in griefIf you’ve ever grieved a loved one from afar, felt torn between ambition and family, or wondered how loss reshapes who we become, this conversation is for you.Follow Jacqueline:Website: pinkstarmusic.comIG: jacquelinevanbierkJoin the January 2026 30 Day Clutter Challenge: https://pinkstarmusic.com/30-day-declutter-challengeSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

After weeks of anticipation, celebration, and emotional effort, the holidays end and for those who are grieving, the quiet that follows can feel overwhelming. In this solo episode of Giving Grief Grace, Lisa reflects on the often-unspoken weight of the days between Christmas and the New Year.Lisa shares personal stories of navigating grief during the holidays, growing up with a birthday just days after Christmas, and now holding both joy and guilt as her son celebrates a December birthday of his own. Through these reflections, she names the complicated emotions that surface — sadness, longing, gratitude, exhaustion — and offers permission to feel all of it without judgment.This episode gently explores how grief can resurface when the celebrations fade, especially for those closing out a year of firsts or stepping into a year of seconds. Lisa also offers practical, compassionate tools for reflecting on the year behind you and planning for the year ahead — from cultivating meaningful relationships and setting intentions, to finding small glimmers of joy that help carry hope forward.If you’re experiencing post-holiday sadness, end-of-year grief, or simply wondering how to move forward while still honoring your loss, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone — and that joy can exist alongside grief, even in the quiet moments.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

As we arrive at the final week of the Grieving Through the Holidays Advent journey, we turn toward a powerful truth: gratitude can coexist with grief.In this episode, Lisa reflects on how grief is not something to “move past,” but rather to live alongside. Grief is love with no place to go. When we allow gratitude and grief to sit side by side, we begin to see how deeply we have loved and how expansive the human spirit truly is.Through sharing a personal story of hiking Bald Mountain with her mother, Lisa uses the story as a metaphor for grief. Grief is like climbing a mountain because there are moments of struggle, unexpected beauty along the way, and eventually, a view that reminds us why we kept going. The gratitude for the climb and view are ever present. Sometimes it is hard to see the forest but for the trees. When you look back, the high and low moments were all worth it. This week's practices include:Journal Prompt: What can you be grateful for, even in the presence of loss? What is grief teaching you about love?Action: Share one story aloud at a gathering or with your loved one’s family. Take a mindful minute to reflect on the 3 C's of grief, knowing that we have control over how we: choose, connect, and communicate each day. Whether this season feels heavy, hopeful, or somewhere in between, this episode reminds you that you are not alone. Share your loved one's story with friends and family while also giving yourself grace. We are here for you! To follow along with the prompts throughout Advent, join the community on Instagram and Facebook @givinggriefgrace, or email "Advent" to [email protected] to receive the weekly reflections.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In Week 3 of the Grieving Through the Holidays Advent series, Lisa invites the community to shift from remembrance and fully embracing emotions into a sense of renewal. After honoring our loved ones in Week 1 and holding space for our emotions in Week 2, this Week 3 episode focuses on honoring legacy while intentionally creating new memories.Lisa shares about a new tradition that she's begun with her daughter through doing daily Advent puzzles together. This daily task has become a sacred moment of connection, presence, and love. Through this reflection, she explores how grief and joy can coexist, how small moments can become meaningful rituals, and how new traditions can help carry love forward without leaving the past behind.This week's practices include:A journal or voice-memo prompt:What new memory can you begin this year that makes space for both grief and joy? A doing prompt: Capture the new memories or traditions being made this week on camera, video, or artistic medium.This episode is a reminder that even in seasons of loss, we can create something new and filled with intention as we continue healing, one small step at a time.To follow along with the prompts throughout Advent, join the community on Instagram and Facebook @givinggriefgrace, or email "Advent" to [email protected] to receive the weekly reflections.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In Week 2 of our Grieving Through the Holidays Advent Series, we move from honoring memories to fully feeling what is bubbling up inside.Our focus is about feeling the feelings and holding space for where you are right now. In a season full of busyness, expectations, and emotional triggers, grief tends to be ever present. When we give our grief room to breathe, we also make space for healing, relief, and even unexpected moments of gratitude. Without grief, it would be tough to feel joy. Lisa shares how emotions surface for her during the holidays, why crying can be deeply cathartic, and how sitting in the glow of Christmas tree lights or sipping hot chocolate can offer grounding warmth. She invites listeners to identify the emotion bubbling up for them this week, feel it fully, and then choose a comforting practice to support themselves afterward.This week’s practices include:A journal or voice-memo prompt: What emotion is surfacing for you right now, and how can you allow yourself to feel it?A doing prompt: Cook a recipe that reminds you of your loved one—and capture the story behind it. Lisa shares a meaningful (and funny!) chicken pot pie story from her mom that still brings comfort today.Whether you're grieving, caregiving, missing someone deeply, or simply navigating a tough season, this episode is an invitation to slow down, feel what needs to be felt, and give yourself grace.To follow along with the prompts throughout Advent, join the community on Instagram and Facebook @givinggriefgrace, or email "Advent" to [email protected] to receive the weekly reflections.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

The holidays are tough. Add grief to the mix and life can get a bit complicated. We get it - we're there too, sitting alongside you on this grief journey. Welcome to Giving Grief Grace's "Grieving Through the Holidays" Advent series. This is Week 1 where we focus on the theme of honoring and remembering our loved ones by carrying memories forward with grace and intention. Lisa shares her own real-life holiday grief experience—crying the night before Thanksgiving, waking up physically shaking with grief and anxiety, and turning to healing rituals like baking her Grammie’s molasses cookies and going for a run.She includes an important Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month PSA, sharing her family’s journey of recognizing subtle yet persistent symptoms and advocating for early scans. Her message to listeners: Trust your intuition. You are your own best advocate.Join Giving Grief Grace throughout this holiday season as we explore our grief together through weekly check-ins and journal prompts. To get the journal prompts delivered to your inbox, email [email protected] with the subject line "Advent."Week 1 Theme: Honor & RememberJournal Prompt: What is a memory that still feels close to your heart? How did it change you?Action:Add a “memory ornament” to a tree or keepsake box and either journal or tell someone about its significance and share the story behind the object. We hope this series provides a comforting and empowering message for those navigating anticipatory grief, long-held loss, and everything in between. We understand the complexity of finding both sorrow and joy during the holidays. You are not alone. Come join us. Follow @givinggriefgrace on Instagram or Facebook for updates. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week, we explore what it means to navigate grief while juggling work, caregiving, motherhood, and identity shifts. Sarah Kagan of Keriah Grief Coaching shares the story of losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, how returning to work without acknowledgment magnified her pain, and the moment she realized her life no longer aligned with who she was becoming.Together, we talk about the “double loss” that comes with caregiving, how grief support in the workplace could improve, and how questioning your purpose after loss is actually a natural part of healing. Sarah also introduces the Jewish mourning ritual of Keriah, symbolizing both the tearing open of the heart and the invitation for community support, and how it inspired her to create Keriah Grief Coaching.This episode is for anyone navigating loss, feeling unseen in their workplace, wondering who they are now, or seeking meaningful grief support in community. You’ll leave with validation, perspective, and the reminder that you don’t have to grieve alone.If you'd like to work with Sarah, she's here for you for 1:1, community, or corporate support at www.keriahcoaching.com. She's hosting a Grief Reframe on December 8, 2025. Join her 6-week In Conversation grief cohort to discover the grief archetypes (the Philosopher, Storyteller, Builder, Guardian, and Performer), and discover the healing way community supports and uplifts. The next session kicks off on January 15, 2026! Instagram: @griefcoachsarahLinkedIn: Sarah KaganSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

The holidays can feel overwhelming when you’re grieving. In this episode, we are joined by Walker Posey, a fourth-generation funeral director at Posey Funeral Directors and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) spokesperson known for blending tradition with meaningful, modern ways to honor life and support families. Together, we explore grief through the holidays with practical ideas, gentle rituals, and compassionate guidance for navigating a season that brings both love and heartache.Walker shares insights from decades of serving families through some of their most tender moments, including how personalized remembrance, community connection, and even small, creative rituals can bring comfort during the holidays. Whether this is your first holiday without someone you love, or you’re supporting someone who is grieving, this conversation offers understanding, tools, and hope.Learn more at PoseyCares.com and explore the grief and healing resources here [https://www.poseyfuneraldirectors.com/grief-and-healing/] including Hope for the Holidays and Daily Affirmations. You are not alone. Additional resources for families and professionals can be found on the National Funeral Directors Association's website. [www.NFDA.org]Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this solo episode, Lisa shares her experience of training for and running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon with Project Purple. At ten months postpartum, she took to the streets of NYC on a perfect marathon day, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. From the hours of training to the electric energy of the cheering crowds and thoughtful race-day details like lactation support for moms, Lisa reflects on how every step of the race was fueled by purpose and community. Always remember your WHY! The Project Purple cheer zone was unparalleled and running through purple confetti and dancing along the course were highlights for Lisa.Tune in for an honest look at the mental, emotional, and physical journey behind 26.2 miles, how community made every step possible, and why raising awareness for pancreatic cancer truly takes a village. Whether you're a seasoned runner, a charity supporter, or simply someone seeking purpose through action, this episode will leave you inspired to go the distance for something bigger than yourself.There is still time to donate to Lisa's Project Purple fundraising page. Link below! Every bit counts and helps make someone else's day better. Thank you! Lisa wants to share her gratitude for family, friends, colleagues, near and far for the support and encouragement through her grief journey. It means the world. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Former teacher and principal, and current K–12 literacy director, Katie Megrian has spent over two decades working in schools. She founded The Reading Symphony, a mission-driven platform that helps families and educators understand how reading develops and how it can transform lives. Behind her work lies a deeply personal story of love and loss. In this episode, Katie shares how losing her brother at age four, her aunt as a teen, and her father to pancreatic cancer just months before her wedding shaped not only her outlook on life—but her purpose.Lisa and Katie explore how grief evolves through different life stages, why keeping a loved one’s name alive matters, and how storytelling and reading can bridge the space between past and present, memory and possibility. Together, they remind us that healing doesn’t mean “moving on”—it means making meaning through connection, conversation, and legacy.This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone learning to explore possibilities after loss. You can find Katie on:Instagram @TheReadingSymphonySubstack: The Reading SymphonySend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Camelia Clarke — owner of Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services, National Funeral Director Association (NFDA) spokesperson, and grief etiquette advocate — as she shares how compassion can guide us through even the most delicate moments of loss.With nearly thirty years in the funeral profession, Dr. Clarke has helped countless families navigate death with dignity. After experiencing the sudden loss of her nephew and witnessing how quickly painful news can spread online, she began leading national conversations about grief etiquette in the digital age. We discuss how to support grieving loved ones both online and in person, why it’s okay to set boundaries, and what to say (and not say) when words feel impossible. This conversation is a guide for anyone who wants to show up with empathy while avoiding unintentional harm in the space between loss and healing.Dr. Clarke is a kind, compassionate professional who deeply understands the many facets of grief. She is a joy to connect with and you can work with Dr. Clarke and Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services here. Find Dr. Clarke's grief support resources here as well as the Remembering A Life website. www.rememberingalife.comView her social media etiquette web series here! Additional resources for families and professionals can be found on the National Funeral Directors Association's website. www.NFDA.orgSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

When stage 4 ovarian cancer came back for the third time, Melanie Ezell made a radical decision—to stop fighting and start living. A surfer, yogi, nutritionist, and coach in Oahu, Hawaii, Melanie has turned her diagnosis into a daily practice of presence, gratitude, and freedom.She shares how surrender eased her anxiety, how acceptance steadied her body, and how peace arrived only after she let go of the need to “beat” cancer. Together, we explore what it means to live fully while going through treatment, to set boundaries with love, and to honor the truth that each day—no matter how ordinary—is a miracle.Melanie reminds us that letting go isn’t giving up; it’s coming home to life itself and being raw and vulnerable. She doesn't sugar coat her diagnosis, but instead enjoys the moments reading in bed with her son, the family meal, the quiet sunset, the grass beneath her feet. Work with Melanie directly at https://www.melanieezell.com/. Catch her on Instagram at @yogasurfmel. Read her book: Weight is Not the Problem: A Non-diet Approach to the Alchemy of Physical Transformation Her memoir is forthcoming so subscribe to her newsletter to get updates! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Trish Riggle, a fifth-generation intuitive and spiritual medium who has been connecting with spirits for over twenty years. Trish opens up about what it means to carry that lineage—how she first recognized her intuitive gift at the age of four, and how she now uses her abilities to bring comfort, healing, and validation to those seeking peace after loss through her company Soul Echoes with Trish. She's worked with nurses, lawyers, and police offers on missing person and murder cases. In the realm of meadiumship, Trish is the real deal! As a practicing medium and mom, Trish shares how she balances motherhood with her sacred calling, embracing both roles as expressions of love and service. With warmth, humor, and honesty, she discusses how her public relations background shaped the way she communicates messages from spirits, how she protects her own energy, and how she helps clients receive messages, gain peace, and feel closer to those they’ve lost. This insightful conversation reveals the everyday grace of a woman who bridges worlds: the seen and unseen, the living and the departed, the practical and the profoundly spiritual.Trish hosts 1:1 or small group readings over Zoom weekly. Connect with her directly!Email: [email protected]: www.trishthemedium.comFacebook: Soul Echoes, With TrishEnter to WIN a reading with Trish! Raffle tickets are $25 (1 ticket), $50 (3 tickets), $75 (6 tickets), $100 (10 tickets). Donate to Lisa's Project Purple fundraising page in any of these amounts with the memo "Raffle" for a chance to WIN! Have someone you've been meaning to write to? Send a love note to make someone feel supported! The notecards (packs of 10 cards & envelopes) designed specifically for this fundraiser by Jenny Collinson of Collinson Creative can be purchase here:Daffodils - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4373026307/pack-of-10-daffodil-bouquet-5x7-greetingFloral - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4373151359/pack-of-10-floral-5x7-greeting-cards-to?ls=r&external=1&rec_type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-2&content_source=d90784d0b16af95e4fb651924893c847%253ALT618ecb3b3e580438e6d9bb74266f5f3e237b47af&logging_key=d90784d0b16af95e4fb651924893c847%3ALT618ecb3b3e580438e6d9bb74266f5f3e237b47afPurple & Gold - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4373154924/pack-of-10-purple-gold-5x7-greeting?ref=shop_home_active_6&frs=1&crt=1&logging_key=adbb3ecee9827df2634c75dc113916d7661e6d20%3A4373154924Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Born Jewish in the former Soviet Union, Diana Esther grew up in a world where faith was forbidden and smiles were rare—she didn’t see a real smile until her late teens.Fleeing as a refugee with her parents and only three suitcases, she sought freedom but later faced another life-altering challenge: a rare lymphatic cancer diagnosis as a young mother. Diana traveled around Europe in search of the right doctors because she needed to be there for her family. After her treatment options were exhausted, she discovered macrobiotic food as medicine and the healing power of connecting with her inner soul. This journey led to a miraculous recovery.Diana's journey is a testament to resilience, faith, and the transformative power of food, spirit, and hope. She is now a transformational coach and teaches others to overcome fear and find The Diamond Within. You can book your free discovery call here: https://www.thediamondwithin.co.uk/free-discovery-sessionVisit her website: thediamondwithin.co.ukGrab a copy of her book: The Diamond Within - Poetry of the Soul https://www.thediamondwithin.co.uk/shop Email: [email protected]: the_diamond_withinSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Dawn Christensen’s life has been defined by resilience and reinvention. Born without breath, surviving a near-death experience (NDE) after a car accident, living with chronic illness, and still finding her way back to the light—Dawn embodies what it means to reinvent the self amidst tremendous challenge. A certified somatic healer, expressive arts counselor, and founder of The Grace Program—a nonprofit bringing the arts to cancer patients—Dawn shares how body, soul, and synchronicity can guide us toward healing and wholeness.In this episode of Giving Grief Grace, Dawn opens up about her NDE, the transformative power of creativity, and how movement and art can help us persevere through even the darkest seasons. Her message is empowering: you are not broken—you are becoming.Stay tuned for Dawn's forthcoming book on healing the nervous system to build inner safety and reclaim yourself!Check out Dawn’s book, Your Body Is the Messenger. This is a 44-day somatic healing companion designed to support nervous system safety, self-trust, and embodied presence. Through gentle daily reflections and practices, it invites readers to listen inward and reconnect with the wisdom already living in the body. You can also find Dawn on Substack - A New Dawn Healing Arts and Instagram @dawnchristensen1111. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Rachel Fitzpatrick, a yoga teacher, creator, and host of The FitZen Project Podcast. Rachel shares her life-changing experience of taking her grandmother’s hand and walking her home during a shamanic journey. She offers listeners an intimate look at how this spiritual practice can open space for love, presence, and release at life’s threshold.Together, we talk about how grief can be both a weight and a portal—an invitation to deepen intuition, connect with spirit, and discover light in the darkest moments. Rachel also shares practical ways to begin exploring meditation, spiritual exploration, and shamanic practices as gentle tools for healing, even if you’re brand new to them.This conversation is a reminder that even in loss, there are pathways to presence, connection, and grace—and that through sacred practices, we can hold space for ourselves and our loved ones as they journey home.---Connect with Rachel!Visit her website to learn more about her Soulful September Sunrise daily yoga practice, her October 9 - 12 Being in the Business of Yourself retreat, or book a 1:1 clarity call with Rachel. Follow @thefitzenproject on InstagramSubscribe to The FitZen Project Podcast---Feeling lost without your loved one? Join Lisa's Power of Positivity Workshop on Saturday, September 27th from 2-4pm ET on Zoom. Share your story, join in communityLearn tools to start your mornings with intentionReframe your mindset when grief callsDiscover how to transform pain into purpose and leave a lasting legacyTo enroll, make a donation to Lisa's NYC Marathon fundraising page for Project Purple and write the word "Power" in the memo. We'll send you a link to join the workshop! Suggested donation $33 - $50. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Navigating senior living decisions can feel overwhelming—whether you’re noticing red flags with loved ones' health, living situation, or wellbeing, avoiding challenging family conversations, or feeling guilt around choosing the best affordable caregiving option. In this episode, we sit down with senior living consultant, author, and advocate Shari Ross, creator of the Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.™ Method.Shari blends professional expertise with her own caregiving journey to bring families clarity, tools, and peace of mind during life’s most tender transitions. We discuss how to recognize when it may be time for extra support, how to approach family conversations with compassion, and how to stay grounded in courage and community as you walk this path.If you’re part of the sandwich generation and are wondering where to begin, this episode offers both practical steps forward and heartfelt encouragement. You are not alone! Visit Shari's website: www.seniorlivingmadesimple.com to book "senior living navigational" calls directly. Shari's book Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.™ and companion workbook will help guide you through the process, one small step at a time. Visit the SeniorLivingShop on Etsy for digital downloads of Shari's book. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Diane Namm—author of 65 books to discuss the release of her new book:What Happens After? Together we explore love, loss, and how healing from grief takes as long as it takes. Diane shares her extraordinary writing journey and the inspiration behind this heartfelt story that honors grief as a process without a timeline. Together, we discuss the many ways we can move forward while still holding close the memory of loved ones, and how celebrating them in unique, personal ways can bring comfort and connection. Our loved ones are always with us. With tender words and touching illustrations, Diane shows us that grief takes as long as it takes—and that healing can be found in love, community, and the signs that remind us we are never truly alone.Find the book What Happens After? here and learn more about Diane Namm here. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Dino Verrelli, Founder and CEO of Project Purple, a leading nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. Inspired by his father’s pancreatic cancer journey, Dino turned grief into purpose by creating a community that funds groundbreaking research, provides direct patient support, and builds hope for families navigating one of the toughest cancer diagnoses.Together, we explore Project Purple’s impactful support of early detection research with Duke Cancer Institute and Hartford Healthcare as well as financial aid support for individuals with pancreatic cancer, sending Blankets of Hope, and providing nutrition assistance for families. Project Purple Running Teams connect community and raise money for a world without pancreatic cancer. Dino also shares why building a “roadmap of hope” is vital for patients and their loved ones after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.Whether you’ve been personally touched by pancreatic cancer, are looking for ways to support those affected by the disease, or want to hear how one person’s “why” grew into a global movement of hope, this conversation will leave you inspired. Thank you for your time, Dino! Lisa will be running the NYC Marathon on 11/2/25 and is raising funds to support Project Purple. Please join her in supporting this effort here!To learn more about Project Purple, please visit their website: www.projectpurple.org or visit them on Instagram @projectpurple. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Caregiving can feel like too much to carry — the constant demands, the emotional weight, and the exhaustion that lingers even when you’re doing your best. In this solo episode, host Lisa Hartung shares five practical caregiving tips to help reduce stress, ease overwhelm, and find moments of peace amidst a challenging time.From taking just one minute for yourself, to cherishing small moments, letting go of regrets, leaning on your support network, and truly listening to your loved one, these lessons come from Lisa’s own caregiving journey with her mom. Through personal stories, she offers encouragement, practical guidance, and a reminder that you are not alone in this.If you’re a caregiver longing for support, this episode will give you tools to not just survive caregiving — but to experience moments of grace along the way.In this episode, Lisa suggests reading the book Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying by Maggie Callahan and Patricia Kelley as an essential guide to end-of-life caregiving. Reading the book helped her realize one of her mother's final wishes before it was too late. What a true final gift. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

When Suzanne Andora Barron’s son Christopher was first diagnosed with leukemia at age three, she could never have imagined the rollercoaster that lay ahead. Over the next six years, Christopher faced leukemia three times, passing away at age 9. Through it all, Suzanne made a powerful choice: to be fully present with Christopher and his younger brother Ryan. Traditional rules went out the window, and each day was filled with fun and play, no matter the circumstances. Suzanne and her husband didn't play favorites and treated both children as "normal". They discovered that joy and grief are not opposites, but can live side by side. After Christopher's passing, Suzanne spent three years in deep grief. She shares how practices like jin shin jyutsu, yoga, and meditation became her lifeline, transforming crippling anxiety into grounded resilience. She now helps others find light in the darkest places and teaches them tools to balance their own emotions.To work with Suzanne, visit her here:Website: suzanneabarron.comSign up for Suzanne's newsletter to receive weekly tips to shift your mindset and ease pain and discomfort. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday.IG: @SuzanneAndoraBarronFacebook: feeltohealwithsuzanneandorabarronPodcast: Finding Joy in the HardSend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Sheri Biritz and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting a baby boy. Over the holidays, they celebrated with family, imagining the joy of meeting their son, Calvin. But during a routine prenatal visit, Sheri was rushed to the hospital with preeclampsia. Doctors explained they would need to induce labor, but Calvin was too small to survive. Sheri learned she had Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), an autoimmune blood disorder which likely caused Calvin's stillbirth. In this vulnerable conversation, Sheri shares the heartbreak of losing Calvin, the out-of-body experience that followed, and how a Catholic priest’s anointing of the sick led to her miraculous healing just 12 hours later. In the years after Calvin’s passing, Sheri was diagnosed with Lupus as well - another autoimmune disease. These health challenges became part of her ongoing journey, and she turned to art as a form of healing. Returning to her creative roots, Sheri found painting to be a lifeline, a way to channel grief into beauty and celebrate Calvin’s memory. Her vibrant, intuitive abstract work reflects both her joy for life and her deep connection to inner wisdom.This episode is for anyone navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, or life with autoimmune illness such as APS or Lupus. Sheri’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, art and creativity can offer light, an opportunity to play, and deep healing.Connect with Sheri Biritz:SheriBiritz.comIG/Facebook: @sheribiritzLupus Support:https://www.lupus.orghttps://lupusuk.org.ukLearn more about Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) here.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

When Dan McNamee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 40, he didn't know how much time he had left. Five years later, he’s in remission—grateful, scarred, and transformed. In this powerful episode, Dan shares his journey through chemotherapy, clinical trials, and the emotional terrain of facing mortality at such a young age while raising two young sons. With a family of doctors at his side and a deep desire to leave something behind, Dan wrote Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me Sad—a love letter, a legacy, and a lifeline for his family. He opens up about writing through uncertainty in the darkest hours, training for the NYC Marathon with Project Purple, and what he’d say to someone newly diagnosed. This is a story of survival, vulnerability, and the grace that comes with living like everything matters and the only option is to persevere.This episode is for anyone living with pancreatic cancer and for their caregivers. There is always HOPE, don't give up.Pick up a copy of Dan's book: Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me Sad - Fun Life Tips from Death's Abyss Visit his website: https://www.funlifetips.com/Check out his Substack too: Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me SadFollow Dan on Instagram: danmcnamee1Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

When Jessica Kueck was just 11 years old, her 3-year-old brother Aaron drowned—an unspeakable tragedy that cracked her world open and quietly redefined her family. Jessica shares what it was like to be the “forgotten mourner,” the older sibling who held space for everyone else while her own grief went largely unseen. Now a devoted mother, spiritual seeker, and aspiring memoirist, Jessica reflects on how this early loss shaped her identity, how her grief evolved over the decades, and how becoming a parent brought newfound healing. We talk sibling dynamics, silent burdens, Jewish traditions, spiritual embodiment, and the deep wisdom she’s gained by navigating this invisible grief. Jessica’s story is an invitation to recognize the losses we don’t always name—and to offer compassion to the siblings who are so often left behind. Her message is simple but powerful: you are not alone, and your grief matters.~~~To connect with Jessica, you can message her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.kueck86/Jessica mentions a few sibling loss resources:Books: Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief  https://www.amazon.com/Always-Sibling-Forgotten-Mourners-Guide/dp/030683149XSurviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread that Connects Us Through Life and Death https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Sibling-Loss-Invisible-Connects-ebook/dp/B08RSPGWW8Remembering Ruth: A Memoir of Childhood Sibling Loss https://a.co/d/5loqGsw Coping With Sibling Loss in Adulthood: When Your Brother or Sister Dies in Adulthood: Dealing With Grief, Guilt, and Regret. (The Turning Point Series) https://www.amazon.com/Coping-Sibling-Loss-Adulthood-Brother/dp/B0D9N63TZ1/ The Empty Room: Understanding Sibling Loss https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Room-Understanding-Sibling-Loss/dp/0743201523Other:The Sibling Loss Project https://siblinglossproject.substack.com/Sibling Loss Grief Group https://www.gretchnevans.com/our-sibling-grief-groupsThe Surviving Siblings Podcast https://www.thesurvivingsiblings.com/Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Ian McCartor—visual artist, hospice nurse, Certified Grief Counselor, and President & Executive Director of The Ash Rose Foundation. With over a decade of end-of-life care experience, Ian brings a rare combination of clinical compassion and creative vision to his work with grieving individuals and families.At the center of this conversation is the compassion that Ian has for his clients as he walks with them through their grief journey. The Ash Rose Project is a 30-Day guided grief processing program that pairs daily journaling prompts with weekly counseling check-ins. At the end of this journey, the individual is presented with an incredible personalized ash portrait—a custom artwork made using a loved one’s cremation ashes and composed with the participant’s reflections in mind. This unique process honors both memory and meaning, helping individuals celebrate their loved one in a beautiful way. The artwork becomes a physical representation of the love and life they shared together.Ian’s work is a powerful reminder that even in the ashes, beauty remains. Grief, when given time and space, can become an act of love and transformation.🕊️ Learn more at www.theashrose.org. You are welcomed to attend annual Gallery Gatherings to meet individuals who have been part of the Ash Rose Project and see their loved ones represented through the works of art. Donations in any amount help keep The Ash Rose Foundation and its community thriving. Thank you!Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with Kathy Morrison of Campbell River, British Columbia to discuss how the profound loss of her father at the age of four shaped her life in ways she only came to understand decades later. Raised in a family where emotions weren’t openly expressed, Kathy grew up carrying silent fears, unspoken questions, and a deep longing to feel "whole".Decades later, it was the loss of her beloved dog that opened the door to long-overdue healing—and how hospice grief counseling, mindfulness practices, and community support helped transform her journey. Kathy finally began to process not only her childhood loss, but also the grief of other losses she had experienced over time.Kathy now advocates for children’s grief support through hospice counseling - raising funds and awareness through cycling in hopes that future generations will have the grief support she wished she'd had at a young age. Kathy's story is a testament to the truth that healing is possible at any age, and that community, movement, and connection can bring meaning to even the deepest sorrow. Her message is simple but powerful: grief needs to be done in community.Support Kathy on her Cycle of Life Tour  with the Campbell River Soul Cyclers here! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

This week we sit down with the incredible Kerry Irish, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW—a psychosocial oncology counselor, interfaith minister, and co-founder of the Dempsey Center and dive into the world of oncology counseling. With nearly three decades of experience in oncology and hospice settings, Kerry shares what it means to walk beside someone through serious illness—not to fix or rescue, but to listen, witness, and hold space with compassion. She opens up about her journey from leadership back to hands-on clinical care, the healing power of creativity and guided imagery, and how she supports both patients and caregivers through uncertainty, sorrow, and hope.We also discuss her forthcoming book, Navigating Serious Illness: A Pathway for Exploring Life, Love, and Legacy, co-authored with Debra Mattison. Part reflection guide, part journal, part spiritual companion, the book invites readers to find meaning, connection, and peace during life’s most vulnerable moments. Whether you're living with illness, caring for someone who is, or holding space as a clinician, this episode is a tender, wise, and inspiring guide.Pre-order Kerry's book here! Release date is set for July 24, 2025. If you'd like to connect with Kerry Irish directly, you can reach her at: [email protected] us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Join us this week as we remember when my sister, Jennifer Collinson, my dad, Dallas Hartung, and I sat down to interview my mom, Emily Doak Hartung in an intimate garden-side legacy conversation as she was nearing the end of her life. She told us stories about her childhood, shared her greatest joys, highlighted the lessons she wanted to pass on, and described how she hoped to be remembered. What unfolded was a beautiful, vulnerable, and love-filled conversation that our family greatly treasures today. You’ll hear the questions we asked, the stories mom shared, and the tender moments that arose as we captured her legacy together as a family. My hope is that this inspires you to begin a similar conversation with someone you love — to preserve their words, their wisdom, and their love for generations to come. While creating a Life Story project is heartfelt, it can sometimes be heavy. I invite you to explore the possibility - it can also be celebratory and so full of joy. Trust me, you won't regret capturing these wonderful anecdotes and memories with your loved one! For a guide on how to get started with your own Legacy Conversation, email [email protected] with the subject line "Legacy Questions".---Sending a very special and heartfelt thank you to The Dempsey Center for not only providing a space and platform for us to have this conversation as a family, but to Christine Brome, Manager for Counseling Services at The Dempsey Center for coordinating everything behind-the scenes. Thank you to Johnny Mehler of Good Eye Productions for filming and editing A Legacy Love Letter. Very grateful for these two individuals, The Dempsey Center, and our support network for making our dreams a reality. What a blessing! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this heartfelt episode of Giving Grief Grace, wellness coach and yoga teacher Maria McKeon shares her powerful journey of transformation through grief, healing, and service. Maria opens up about the experiences that shaped her path—from founding a healing sanctuary for women with cancer to embracing holistic wellness as a way of life.Rooted in mindfulness, movement, and deep compassion, Maria’s approach to grief is both practical and profound. She invites us to consider how connection, presence, and purpose can offer a path through pain—and how we might learn to heal our bodies and spirits in tandem.Whether you’re a caregiver, grieving a loss, or simply navigating a season of change, Maria’s wisdom is a gentle, empowering reminder: healing begins within.---Maria McKeon is a wellness coach, yoga and Pilates teacher, and co-founder of Mary’s Place by the Sea, a nonprofit sanctuary supporting women on their cancer journey. With over 30 years in the nonprofit and wellness space, Maria helps others heal through movement, mindfulness, and holistic health practices rooted in compassion and connection.You can work with Maria by signing up for her weekly online yoga classes, and for more 1:1 time, she also offers fitness or wellness coaching at MariaMcKeon.net.  Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

In this deeply moving episode, artist, writer, and storyteller Jessie Hansen shares the story of how losing her father became the catalyst for profound personal transformation. What began as anticipatory grief after her father's cancer diagnosis turned into sudden loss after a fatal car accident. Rather than numbing herself with alcohol, Jessie chose sobriety—and in that choice, everything changed.Jessie opens up about how she turned to meditation, painting, and writing as ways to process pain and reconnect with herself. In the rawness of her grief, she uncovered a radiant inner truth: her voice, her purpose, and her deep connection to her soul. Jessie's story is one of courage, clarity, and becoming—and it’s a powerful reminder that when we give grief grace, it can give us back ourselves.----Discover more about Jessie and her soulful offerings at JessieHansen.com. Through her Authentic Soul Collective membership, members receive daily intuitive guidance from Spirit that brings clarity, comfort, and support on their healing journeys. She also offers a women’s empowerment clothing line designed to inspire strength and celebrate each woman’s unique path. Co-host of the podcast, Journey to your Dreams, Jessie shares her journey back to her authentic self and interviews others on their own paths to healing, resilience, and growth. You can find a copy of her book Love, Me on Amazon or available for download on her podcast website. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Through breathwork, Reiki, and guided meditation, interfaith Spiritual Director Cathie Wallace shares practical tools to help both caregivers and those facing the end of life cultivate inner peace. In this heart-centered conversation, we explore Cathie’s own journey of spiritual awakening and discuss the transformative power of presence, energy healing, and mindfulness.Cathie brings decades of compassionate service to her current work with the hospice community, where she has not only provided end-of-life doula support and shared her Reiki expertise, but also taught the community about “life story”—which helps individuals reflect on and share the narrative of their lives as a source of meaning and healing.Cathie Wallace is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), a certified End-of-Life Doula, interfaith Spiritual Director, Reiki Master, and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She received her meditation teacher certification from none other than Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, and continues to guide others with deep spiritual insight and grace.If you'd like to work with Cathie 1:1, you are welcome to email her at [email protected]. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

What does it really mean to care for someone at the end of life? In this episode, we sit down with Registered Nurse Jean Jennings who has over 40 years of experience working in hospice care for both pediatric and adult patients. From practical advice to emotional support, she offers gentle guidance for caregivers navigating one of life’s most sacred and challenging journeys. Whether you're currently caring for a loved one or simply want to better understand the holistic support system that hospice programs offer, this conversation is filled with compassion, heart, and hope.~~~Jean Jennings, RN began her nursing journey over 40 years ago supporting chronically ill children and families. After her own rare ovarian germ cell cancer diagnosis and treatment (only 5 other women in the US had it at that time!), she transitioned to the hospice side of care as a staff RN for 27+ years. Thank you Jean for your support of so many families when they needed it most. You are a gift to this world. Also, congratulations on your recent retirement! Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music

Leon Roberts, a 6th generation funeral director uncovers the important conversations and decisions that shape the end of life. Leon and Lisa discuss how funerary practices have evolved over generations and explore ways people can plan ahead with compassion, clarity, and legacy in mind. They touch on the future of funerary services and what it was like for Leon growing up in Maine where the ground is frozen for much of the year! Whether you're navigating a recent loss or preparing for what lies ahead, this episode offers grounded wisdom from Leon Roberts, a man who has seen it all. ~~~Learn about Leon Roberts' family history on The Knowlton & Hewins - Roberts Funeral Home & Cremation Care website. Leon's mother's book Thank You For Coming to Say Goodbye. Janice Roberts & Joy Johnson. January 1, 1994. brings children of all ages into the conversation of death and dying in order to grieve and honor their loved one. Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music