Restorative Grief with Mandy Capehart

"Living a full life, living a beautiful life, means learning how to carry grief."What if grief isn't something we're meant to get over, but something we're meant to learn how to carry?In today's episode, I'm joined by therapist and author Margaret Bryden to explore the intersection of grief, creativity, and the healing power of honest expression. Margaret's upcoming book, How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health and Resilience, offers a refreshing invitation to set aside perfection and discover how writing can help us better understand ourselves and our experiences.In this episode, we talk about:Why grief is an inevitable part of living a full lifeHow "bad poetry" helps quiet perfectionism and self-criticismTurning grief into something tangible we can hold and understandThe role of creativity in restoring agency after lossWhy many people feel pressure to perform griefNarrative authority and reclaiming ownership of your storyThe connection between poetry, self-awareness, and healingWhy resilience is learning how to love differentlyHow creative expression reduces isolation and fosters connectionA simple way to begin writing, even if you've never considered yourself creativeLinks + Resources from this episode:Buy Margaret's bookConnect with Margaret onlineFollow her on InstagramBecome a PatronLearn more about Restorative Grief

“I’m fine” is often less a truth and more a reflex that pulls us away from what we actually feel.What if that phrase is quietly shaping how you move through grief, stress, and relationship without you realizing the cost? Beneath it, self-abandonment can start to look like stability.Today’s conversation explores what I’m calling high-functioning grief; the kind that runs underneath daily life while everything still looks “fine” on the outside.We look at how this pattern shows up in the nervous system, why grief often hides inside functioning and responsibility, and what it means to stop overriding yourself and come back into contact with your inner experience.In this episode, we talk about:High-functioning grief in everyday lifeWhy “I’m fine” becomes a reflexGrief hidden inside functioning and responsibilityNervous system patterns of self-abandonmentComing back into contact with yourselfHow honesty shifts relationshipsLinks + Resources from this episode:Get Anne Lamott’s book, Almost EverythingBecome a PatronConnect with MandyLearn more about Restorative Grief

“The invitation has always been towards a descent.”Grief is a core human faculty that requires skill development rather than simply passing through. This week, we’re exploring these skills through the lens of an apprenticeship of sorrow with author and teacher Francis Weller. Francis’ work invites us to consider the necessarily communal reality of grief work and in this conversation, we also covered practical advice for those struggling with acute grief, too.In this episode, we talk about:​Grief as a communal human faculty​The value of community support in our grief work​The expression of vulnerability​Collective ritual practices​Balancing grief and gratitude​Embracing the darkness​Acknowledging and pursuing primary satisfactions for groundingLinks + Resources from this episode:​FrancisWeller.net​Learn more about Restorative Grief Coaching​Become a Patron/Get the workbook​Follow Mandy on Instagram

"Gratitude does not require us to appreciate suffering. Sometimes gratitude simply invites us to notice what is present alongside suffering."What if gratitude was never meant to replace grief, but to sit beside it?In this episode, I'm sharing the story of one of my last visits with my grandfather before his death and exploring why gratitude and grief are not opposites. Together, we'll talk about anticipatory grief, why gratitude is so often used to bypass sorrow, and a simple restorative practice I return to on the days when hope feels far away.In this episode, we explore:Why gratitude and grief can coexistAnticipatory grief and grieving before deathThe difference between gratitude and toxic positivityA simple trauma-informed restorative practice for difficult daysHow grief can deepen our capacity for gratitudeLinks + Resources from this episode:Join the Restorative Grief CommunityBecome a PatronSubscribe to the Restorative Grief NewsletterWork with Mandy

"Most of us spend far more of our lives in the middle than we expect."What happens when grief is not tied to a single event, but to a season of becoming?Today, I'm joined by writer and author Adriel Booker, whose newest book, Tethered to Hope, explores the liminal spaces of life. Those moments when something has ended, something else is beginning, and we find ourselves navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, questions of faith, and the grief that often accompanies change.Together, we explore what it means to live in those in-between spaces with honesty and compassion. Rather than rushing toward resolution, Adriel invites us to consider how hope can remain present even when clarity is not.If you've ever felt suspended between what was and what comes next, this conversation offers language, companionship, and permission to remain present to your own unfolding.In this episode, we talk about:What liminal spaces are and why they matterThe grief that accompanies change and transitionIdentity shifts after lossFaith, doubt, and living with unanswered questionsHope without certaintyLearning to remain present during seasons of becomingThe difference between resolution and transformationLinks + Resources from this episodeAdriel Booker's websiteTethered to HopeAdriel's SubstackRestorative Grief Community & ResourcesBecome a Patron!

What if the small, everyday signals you’re ignoring are actually wake-up calls from your grief?In this episode we talk about how grief doesn’t always show up in big, obvious ways. Sometimes it shows up as irritation, loss of motivation, dreaming of a different life, or even constant planning. We break down nine common emotional and physical signals you might be brushing off and explore how you can respond with simple, restorative actions instead of pushing them aside.We also walk through three practical ways to interrupt old patterns and begin healing: with presence, expression, and intentional choice.Links + Resources from this episode:MandyCapehart.com/coachingBecome a Patron!Connect with Mandy on InstagramProgressive Muscle Release Practice

"Grief isn't always about losing what was. Sometimes it's grieving what you thought would be."What happens when grief collides with personality, parenting, and identity?Today I'm joined by Enneagram teacher, author, and Type-ish founder Tyler Zach for a conversation about infertility, adoption, parenting through unexpected challenges, and the grief of letting go of the futures we imagined.Together, we explore how personality shapes the way we grieve, why loss often looks different inside relationships, and what it means to honor grief without trying to fix it.In this episode, we talk about:How personality shapes the grieving processInfertility, adoption, and parenting through lossGrieving unmet expectations for ourselves and our childrenShame, achievement, and the Type 3 experienceIdentity shifts and leaving ministryWhy grief looks different for different peopleWhat it means to let go and move forward with honestyLinks + Resources from this episode:Learn more about Type-ish: https://www.typeish.com/Buy a copy of Tyler's booksFollow Mandy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandycapehartBecome a Patron / Get the Workbook: https://www.patreon.com/mandycapehart

This is not for you to make a list of things to handle, but for you to witness my story alongside me while you remember what matters the most here and now.Grief changes the way we move through the world after we encounter loss, but it can also inspire us to move with intention while we are in the middle of this messy life, too.Listen as I recount some of the beautiful and hard lessons of loss in my story, and see if something resonates for your own journey.Links + Resources from this episode:Become a Patron/Get the WorkbookLearn more about Restorative Grief and Enneagram CoachingConnect on Instagram/Threads

“I don’t want to stay in my grief. I know I’m going to carry it with me, but I don’t want to stay in the sadness.”What does it look like to stay connected to someone you love after they die? And how do we make space for grief without losing ourselves inside it?Today’s conversation is with children’s author Jenny Robinson Clark, whose book Are You Here? was born from the loss of her mother, the experience of raising young children while grieving, and the quiet moments that helped her feel connected again.We talk about the complicated overlap of motherhood and loss, the fear and skepticism that can show up around signs and synchronicities, and the importance of curiosity in grief. Jenny shares honestly about feeling disconnected from her mother years after her death, how creativity became part of her healing, and why she chose to tell this story through a children’s book.This episode is gentle, hopeful, and deeply honest about the non-linear nature of grief.If you’ve ever wondered whether healing means letting go, whether comfort is something you’re “allowed” to receive, or how to stay open to beauty after loss, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we talk about:What it was like to lose a mother while raising very young childrenThe fear of death and grief that begins in childhoodWhy grief can feel both heavy and strangely awakeningHow signs and synchronicities can create comfort after lossThe role of curiosity in healingParenting while actively grievingWhy emotional honesty matters for childrenThe connection between creativity, nature, and grief workLearning to notice beauty again after lossWhy grief is never linearLinks + Resources from this episode:Jenny Robinson Clark - jennyrobinsonclark.comPurchase "Are You Here?" at Bookshop.orgConnect with Jenny on IG - instagram.com/jennyrobinsonclarkFollow Mandy on IG - instagram.com/mandycapehartGet the Workbook or become a Patron - patreon.com/mandycapehart

“You are not responsible for removing your child’s grief. You are responsible for the environment you help create.”What if parenting through divorce didn’t require you to make everything okay, but instead invited you to understand what is actually yours to carry?This conversation holds space for the quiet, often unspoken grief that comes with the end of a relationship, especially when you are still showing up every day for your children. It offers a gentle reorientation away from pressure and toward presence, helping you consider what steadiness can look like in the middle of change.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure how to support your children while navigating your own grief, this episode invites you into a more sustainable way forward: one rooted in connection, capacity, and small, meaningful shifts.In this episode, we talk about:What it means to parent while grieving the loss of a relationshipThe difference between creating safety and trying to prevent painWhy you are not responsible for fixing your child’s griefHow connection supports children more than perfectionThe role of repair when parenting feels messyCreating small, consistent moments of safety and belongingHow to begin tending to your own capacity, one week at a timeLinks + Resources from this episode:Alan Wolfelt on divorce & grief: https://amzn.to/3NGVZCCLisa Rites: https://amzn.to/4dMPaK9Get the workbook/Become a Patron!Learn more about Restorative Grief

What does grief need from us - time, understanding, or something else entirely?In this episode, I’m joined by Kyle Kittleson, host at MedCircle, to explore what it means to live alongside grief rather than trying to fix or outpace it. We talk about how loss shapes the way we listen, why grief resists timelines, and what thousands of conversations with mental health experts have revealed about what actually helps. This conversation offers permission to slow down, trust your own rhythm, and rethink what healing can look like.Links + Resources from this episode:Kyle Kittleson at MedCircle: https://medcircle.com⁠Join the Restorative Grief Community⁠: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rests ⁠Become a Patron⁠: https://www.patreon.com/mandycapehart⁠Subscribe to the Restorative Grief Newsletter⁠: https://www.mandycapehart.com/subscribe ⁠Work with Mandy⁠: https://www.mandycapehart.com/coaching

Have you ever sat with someone who is grieving and felt completely unsure what to say?If so, you're in good company! This week, let's talk about how the awkward silences you fear are an offering of solace and care for your beloved grievers. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable; that's where the magic is!Links + Resources from this episode:Learn more about Stanier's workListen to Emily Kasriel's interview on Restorative GriefJoin the Restorative Grief CommunityBecome a PatronSubscribe to the Restorative Grief NewsletterWork with Mandy

“Becoming a grief ally isn’t about having the perfect words—it’s about cultivating the humility, courage, and self-awareness to show up with compassion when someone you love is living through loss.”When grief enters the life of someone we care about, many of us freeze. We worry about saying the wrong thing, doing too much, or not doing enough. In this conversation, Aly Bird—life coach and author of Grief Ally—invites us to rethink what meaningful support really looks like. After the sudden death of her husband Will while hiking alone, Aly discovered that much of the common advice about grief support didn’t quite fit her experience. What grew from that realization was a deeply thoughtful framework for becoming a healthier, more compassionate presence for those who are grieving.Together we explore how grief allies can move beyond quick fixes or performative care and instead practice the steady, intentional support that grieving people actually need.We talk about:Why becoming a grief ally begins with self-awareness and self-compassionThe difference between reacting to grief and learning to accompany itWhat it means to “wait in the wings” and offer long-term supportHow active listening helps us honor the nuance of someone’s griefWhy grief allies must resist minimizing grief or rushing someone toward “strength”How to repair missteps and stay present even when we feel uncertainThe importance of flexibility, humility, and courage when supporting someone through lossLinks + Resources from this episode:Follow Aly on Instagram: @thealybirdPurchase Grief Ally wherever books are soldConnect with MandyGet the workbook / Become a Patron

"What will you do when all your self-awareness isn't making a difference?"This is more common than you suspect, because learning alone doesn't move the needle in our search for the path toward wholeness.This week, we're talking about how the Enneagram is a helpful tool for language of what we're experiencing, and then we'll learn how to start integrating that language and awareness into our actions so we stop knowing and start healing in an intentional and sustainable way.Links + Resources from this episode:Become a Patron/Get the WorkbookLearn more about Restorative Grief and Enneagram CoachingConnect on Instagram/Threads

“Sometimes grief isn’t just about losing a person. It’s about losing the story we thought our life would follow.”The stories we inherit shape who we are, but they aren’t always meant to stay. In this conversation, Kaitlin B. Curtice, author of Everything Is a Story: Reclaiming the Power of Stories to Heal and Shape Our Lives, invites us to notice the narratives we carry, grieve the ones that no longer fit, and begin cultivating new ones.We talk about:​How stories shape identity, faith, and belonging​Grieving the narratives we’ve outgrown​Recognizing loving, liminal, and lethal stories​Community, connection, and collective healing​Discovering the “medicine” you bring to the worldLinks + Resources from this episode:​Learn more about Kaitlin and her work​Purchase Everything Is a Story​The Liminality Journal on Substack​Connect with Mandy​Get the workbook / Become a Patron

“Grief is not something to get over. It is something to carry with awareness, intention, and openness to transformation.”In this episode, we explore what it means to live with grief rather than move past it. Through a restorative framework of sight, insight, action, and healing, we consider how grief becomes a guide for self-awareness, intentional living, and deeper connection.We also reflect on the importance of communal care, the role of identity in grief, and how learning to carry loss can shape the way we show up for ourselves and others.Links + Resources from this episode:Become a PatronConnect with MandyLearn more about Restorative GriefJS Park's workFrancis Weller's workAlua Arthur's work

“There’s a moment in grief when you realize the story didn’t end… it just changed shape.”In this episode of Restorative Grief, Mandy is joined by filmmaker and Emmy-winning producer Jon Hill, whose feature film Above the Clouds was born from the loss of his father and shaped over thirteen years of quiet persistence. What began as heartbreak slowly became a creative path toward meaning, connection, and unexpectedly laughter.Together, we explore what it looks like to honor someone we love through art, why humor can coexist with deep sorrow, and how creative expression can help us move through grief without trying to rush past it. Jon shares the personal roots of his film, the long road to bringing it into the world, and the gentle hope he carries for anyone walking their own healing journey.This conversation is an invitation to hold grief with honesty, to stay open to moments of lightness, and to remember that restoration often arrives in ways we don’t expect.In this episode, we discuss:Turning personal loss into meaningful creative workThe surprising role of humor in the healing processWhat thirteen years of persistence can teach us about griefBalancing tenderness and levity when telling hard storiesHelping grieving people feel less alone in their experienceLinks + Resources from this episode:Learn more about Above the Clouds: https://www.abovethecloudsfilm.com/Learn about Jon's work: https://www.jonhilldirects.com/Learn more about Restorative Grief: https://www.mandycapehart.com/Become a Patron of the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/mandycapehart

“Much of what we experience while scrolling the news is actually grief trying to move through the body.”How do we stay present to the world’s suffering without being swallowed by it? In this episode, we explore the very real tension of living everyday life while absorbing constant global distress. From doomscrolling and body tension to the quiet pressure to stay informed, this conversation names what so many are feeling but struggle to articulate.We talk about how grief shows up physically in the body, why your nervous system responds the way it does to ongoing crisis, and how to practice what I call responsible distance. You’ll walk away with simple, grounded ways to stay compassionate and engaged without overwhelming your capacity to keep showing up.Links + Resources from this episode:MandyCapehart.com/coachingAround the Circle: National GriefPolyvagal Theory overview with Deb DanaGet the workbook for more on doomscrolling management