Shapes Of Grief
by Liz Gleeson, Grief Specialist, MSc Bereavement, MA Psychotherapy, PhD Student
Shapes of Grief is brought to you by Liz Gleeson, an Irish grief therapist. Liz hosts conversations with people about their experience of loss and grief in their lives. Through the recounting of our grief stories, integration can begin to happen, both for the teller and the listener. Everyone has a story of loss and everyone's story offers hope and inspiration to other grievers. Sharing these stories with each other can go a long way in normalising this human experience. Please do become a Patron on https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief for as little as $5 per month, help keep us going!
Episodes
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Ep. 111 Vicky Linnane on Sibling Loss and Anticipatory Grief
In this episode, Vicky Linnane discusses the profound and often overlooked experience of sibling loss and the impact of sibling loss on her identity, relationships and sense of self. Vicky’s brother, Gary, who died in a house fire - was described as a character who always lived life on the edge,...
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Ep. 110 Mary Kennelly on the Losses of Menopause
In this episode Mary discusses the multifaceted aspects of menopause, the losses associated with menopause, ambiguous loss as well as the release of her new book; Seven Steps to Birth a Crone. She explores the physical and emotional changes, the challenges and triumphs and the unique ways she’s...
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Ep.109 Tasha Smith - Can you just sit with me
We are back with a new episode of our podcast! Listen in via any major podcast streaming platform! In this episode, Tasha opens up about her experience of pregnancy loss and then loosing another child to adoption, and how that impacted her life as a young teenager. Tasha discusses her experience…
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Ep. 108 Collective Grief: Mourning Sinead O'Connor
Sinead O'Connor was many things to many people. On 8th August, her funeral procession brought her back to her former hometown Bray, Co. Wicklow, where her community could pay their condolences and express their love and gratitude for this beloved woman. I travelled to Bray to speak to some of the...
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Ep. 107 Caoimhe Butterly on Supporting Refugees & Humanitarian Work
June 20th is World Refugee Day I am so lucky and privileged to live in a country that is not threatened by war. My children are safe, have access to good education and have their human rights supported and protected. Not everyone is so lucky. Many people in the world live under the daily threat…
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Ep. 106 Lucy on being widowed young & the cultural impacts on her grief
No twenty three year old, starting out on married life, expects to be widowed so young, but that is what happened Lucy. After her husband died, not only did she lose him, but also the family and friends that surrounded her - she was from the 'wrong' tribe. Lucy generously shares her experience of...
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Ep. 105 Mandy Gosling on Adults Bereaved as Children
This is such an important perspective that hasn't yet been explicitly been explored by the podcast. In this episode, Mandy Gosling shares her experience of being a bereaved child after her mother died when she was aged 9. We explore how this early loss can impact a person's life, affecting their...
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Ep. 104 Tony Lynch on anger & finding purpose following the death of his son
The pain of losing a child can trigger immensely distressing emotions. In the aftermath of a child's death, it is common for bereaved parents to feel that life no longer has purpose or meaning. In this conversation, Tony generously shares the story of his son Jake's sudden death, how Tony's past...
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Ep. 103 Kate on her little sister Hanna's illness and death
Often called 'The forgotten grievers', there is no name for someone who has lost a sibling. They regularly hear 'how is your mum?' or 'how is your dad?', but rarely 'how are you?'. For a sibling, the loss can be enormous. Not only have they been bereaved of someone they have known probably for…
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Ep. 102 Jackie Furlong on Delayed Grief following the death of her daughter
Jackie Furlong describes the immense psychological and emotional challenges of coping with the profound impact of her daughter's death, without the benefit of emotional literacy. It would be years after her loss that Jackie would learn how to grieve. Jackie's thesis was an autobiography - Giving...
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Ep 101 Kathy Donaghy on Multiple Miscarriage & Finding Healing in Nature
Liz and Kathy talk about Kathy's experience of multiple miscarriages and how devastating it was to not have a much-wanted third child. Kathy talks about how harmful the process became for her and how she found her sanity again, in the wilds of Donegal. Buy Kathy's newly published book 'Finding my...
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Ep. 100 Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor on Grieving as a Learning Process, The Grieving Brain
I have been following the research of Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor for almost a decade now, so I was absolutely delighted when she published her book ‘The Grieving Brain’ last year. I am always hungry to learn about grief and specifically, what can the science tell us about how to make sure we are...
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Ep. 99 Phoenix on managing the Grief of LGBTQ+ Estrangement with ADHD & AUTISM
Phoenix talks about their grief following family estrangement because of their LGBTQ identity. This is a kind of disenfranchised grief that many LGBTQ+ people experience with little to no recognition or support from society. Life can change in an instant, yet the loss remains ambiguous because...
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Ep. 98 Sacha Langton-Gilks on Childhood Cancer & Anticipatory Grief
Sacha and Liz discuss childhood cancer, anticipatory grief and the misunderstandings that often surround incurable disease. They talk about the different meanings between incurable, terminal, palliative care and end-of-life. Sacha describes what is was like going through anticipatory grief and…
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Ep. 97 Melissa & Emma talk about Grief.Coach, a texting service for bereaved people
A conversation about some of the needs of bereaved people and why Grief.Coach texting service could be a wonderful balm for people during their most vulnerable months and years. About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency...
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Ep. 96 Mary Shine Thompson, Poems for when you can't find the words
Order your copy of ‘Poems for when you can’t find the words’ here In this episode, I speak to Mary Shine Thompson about the power of poetry at end-of-life and during times of grief. We also talk about her personal experiences of loss; how the death of her brother as young adults reshaped her…
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Ep. 95 Adriana Marchione on Addiction, Cancer, Dance & Grief
Sometimes I wish the world were a little smaller, so I could meet my guests in person. Adriana is one of those people who I’d love to spend time with. This, for me, was a beautiful, insightful, honest and tender conversation about humanity, addiction, love, capacity to show up in the face off...
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Ep. 94 Damien Quinn on Addiction, Prison & Rebuilding Life after loss
This interview really hit me in the guts. It is sometimes a roll of the dice how our lives can unfold. Damien’s story is an incredible story of resilience and determination in the face of loss and hopelessness. Following a significant childhood trauma, at the age of 14, Damien found himself sole...
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Ep. 93 Rosie Mankes on losing her Mom to Dementia
Rosie Mankes’s mother has had dementia for ten years. She had to be transitioned into assisted living, and then into memory care. And little by little, Rosie has had to watch her mother go. She recently wrote an article...
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Ep. 92 Mary Kennelly on Grief & Dementia, Caring & Anticipatory Grief
Mary brings a whole other perspective to the podcast with this very tender and beautiful episode. Two ‘giants’ in her life, Fr John and Brendan were more than Uncles to Mary. They were constant forces of good, founts of wisdom and a huge part of her life. When Fr John developed vascular dementia,...
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Ep. 91 Alan Creedon on the impact of disenfranchised childhood grief
When Alan Creedon was a young boy, his sister Aoife was quietly removed from their home and placed in a home for children with disabilities, as was the 'done thing' in rural Ireland. This ambiguous loss and the resultant disenfranchised grief would play a significant part in how Alan would engage...
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Ep 90 Dorothy Holinger on The Anatomy of Grief
Psychologist Dorothy Holinger, author of 'The Anatomy of Grief', talks to Liz about her early experience of loss and how it shaped her life as a psychologist. They discuss Prolonged Grief Disorder, how grief affects the body, the heart, the brain, how some people make meaning from their loss and...
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Ep. 89 Addison Brasil on Compound Grief & an LGBTQ perspective on loss
I absolutely loved this conversation with Addison Brasil. It is so full of wisdom and possibilities in the face of profound, multiple losses. It will not be for everyone, but if you’re someone who doesn’t want your losses to define your entire life moving forward, then sit down and tune in to…
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Ep 88 Sandra Adams on the aftermath of loss, part 2
This is part 2 of the conversation I had with Sandy Adams, about how she navigated grief when her fiancé John died suddenly. We talk about choice in grief, expectations of others, good support and finding ourselves again, after profound loss. How do we survive and then thrive when our assumptions...
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Ep. 87 Sandra Adams on the sudden death of her partner John & how grief manifested
I really enjoyed this conversation with Sandy Adams about how she navigated her grief following her partner's sudden and unexpected death. In fact, it was so interesting, I asked her to do a part 2! Sandra has a lot of wisdom to share, so this is well worth listening to. Most of all, she offers a...
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Ep. 86 Recording of the Shapes Of Grief Launch event at the Whale Theatre, 31st March 2022
The official launch of Shapes Of Grief was a truly powerful evening, last Thursday, March 31st 2022. Branwen Kavanagh opened and closed the event with her beautiful music. Introduction was given by Liz Gleeson, who shared a personal story of loss and then talked about the many Shapes Of Grief.…
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Ep. 85 Andy Gilats and Liz discuss Prolonged Grief Disorder
We know that grief never really goes away, we learn to live with it and accommodate it in our lives. For some people, about 5-10%, their grief can remain very intense and cause major disruption in their lives for a prolonged period of time; years and even decades. It is normal for grief to endure...
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Ep. 84 Linda Allen talks about her son dying by suicide & the grief that followed
A very insightful conversation with Linda Allen about her grief following her son’s death by suicide. We explore the physicality of grief, the importance of connection in grief, as well as moments of choice we may have in the grieving process. Article written by Linda...
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Ep. 83 Deena Goldstein on her father’s dying & death
Deena Goldstein talks about her father's dying process, death and how writing about her grief helped her through. #dying #death #bereavement #hospice #deathprocess #whatisdying #oklittlebird #deenagoldstein About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization...
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Ep 82 Tahseen Rizvi on the impact of early loss, bereavement overload & shattered religious beliefs
By the age of 15, Tahseen Rizvi had lost both her parents and was sent to live with relatives in another country, another continent, another culture. What followed was another series of significant losses which would negatively affect every relationship Tahseen would enter, including with her...
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Ep. 81 Clemmie Clough, childhood bereavement & life after the tsunami
I often hear grieving people describe their experience of grief 'like a tsunami' that just washes over them. This week's guest, Clemmie Clough, experienced the devastation first-hand of the 2004 tsunami when she was just a child. It was an event that would rob her of her mother and change the...
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Ep. 80 D Anaya on the death of her daughter and grieving as a black woman in a white community
A tender episode from D Anaya about the sudden death of her little daughter Phoebe and how difficult it was for her to find grief support as a black woman in a predominantly white community. We also talk about sex after loss and the strain on a married couple when a child dies. #parentalloss…
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Ep. 79 Caitriona McMahon on anxiety/depression, the pain of Christmas and surviving suicidal planning
There's often nothing more helpful to those who are suffering than an open and frank conversation from someone who has survived the abyss of depression, addiction or grief. I loved talking to Caitriona about the common human struggles of fitting in, not having a sense of belonging, being too...
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Ep. 78 Dr Francis McGivern on 'Life after a partner's suicide attempt'
In this episode, we speak with Dr Francis McGivern about his recently published book 'Life after a Partners Suicide Attempt'. #suicideattempt #survivingasuicideattempt Life After a Partner's Suicide Attempt is the first publication to document in depth the lived experiences of the partners of...
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Bundle of Grief Books Giveaway for Grief Awareness Week
Be in with a chance to win this bundle of ten books, signed by the authors! All you have to do is sign-up to the Shapes of Grief Education Programme during December 2021 to be in with a chance to own this bundle of ten grief books. About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally...
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Ep. 77 Pat Dollard on Ambiguous loss following his partners' disappearance & lgbtq+ grief
The experience of grief within the lgbtq+ community can be profoundly painful as a result of past losses connected to sexuality. This can be experienced as bereavement (the AIDS crisis), stigmatisation, marginalisation, tacit acceptance from family & community, outright homophobia or erasure by...
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Ep 76 Rach Underhill on grief following her wife's illness & death (lgbtq+ grief)
I'm so grateful to Rach Underhill for this really tender and beautiful episode. It's coming up to two years since Rach's beloved wife Kris died from terminal cancer. Rach takes us through the love story, to Kris' diagnosis and eventual death. The love and grief that Rach experienced from firstly...
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Ep 75 Dr Vanessa Lacey on the grief experience of older transgender women and their families.
Dr Vanessa Lacey recently finished her PhD studies on the grief experienced by older transgender women and their families. In this episode, Vanessa talks about her personal experience of loss, what her research uncovered and how she has cultivated an impressive 'live and let live' attitude…
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Ep. 74 Stephen Teap on being a young, bereaved father
Stephen Teap became a young widower when his wife Irene died of cervical cancer, leaving him to parent two young boys age 2 and 4 alone. In this conversation, Stephen talks about the hope, the denial and the devastation of living with terminal cancer and how grief following Irene's death has been...
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Ep 73 Dr Nyasha Grayman, when one twin dies
Dr Nyasha Grayman speaks to Liz about the premature birth of her sons, navigating a white healthcare system and the death of one of her twins. We talk about why 'nice' therapists need more grief & trauma training and why more black psychologists are needed in America. For a comprehensive grief...
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Ep. 72 Andrew McGinley speaks about finding new purpose following the tragic deaths of his three beloved children
In January 2020, Andrew McGinley's three children Carla, Darragh and Conor died suddenly and tragically in their home. Following trial, their mother was found not guilty of murder for reason of insanity. In this conversation, Andrew talks about his love for his three children, how he continues…
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Ep 71 Kristine Carlson on the sudden death of her husband & finding meaning after tragic loss
Kristine Carlson and her husband Richard Carlson, author of 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff', which was No 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for 100 consecutive weeks, were enjoying their success when tragedy struck. Richard died suddenly and unexpectedly while on a flight to New York. In…
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Ep. 70 Caoimhe Butterly on navigating grief in advocacy work
A rich, rich conversation with the wonderful Caoimhe Butterly about how she has navigated grief through many years of activism and advocacy work and how, as both humans and psychotherapists, we can adequately meet people who are experiencing profound suffering and loss in their lives. #advocacy...
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Ep. 69 Meghann Scully on losing her brother & father as a teenager
Ep. 69 Meghann Scully talks to Liz about her brother's death when they were teenagers, followed by her father's death a year later. Meghann shares how her grief affected her and how unexpressed grief caught up with her in her twenties through addiction. Podcast is available on all podcasting...
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Ep. 68 Clair speaks about living with a terminal illness
Have you ever wondered how you would respond to receiving a terminal diagnosis? In this conversation with Clair, we talk about dying, living, available choices when living with a terminal illness and the 'battle' language that often accompanies cancer. Clair is refreshingly honest and a breath of...
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Ep. 67 Liz Introduces the Shapes Of Grief Education Programme for Mental Health Practitioners
Hi Everyone, I took a little break from the podcast to accompany my lovely Dad on his final weeks on planet earth. After he died, I launched myself into completing a project that I've been curating for the past few months, an online Grief Education Programme for Healthcare Providers and Mental...
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Ep. 66 Sarah Corbett-Lynch, age 14, on children’s grief
Sarah’s first major loss happened when she was just twelve weeks old and her adoring mother Mags died as a result of an asthma attack. Sarah’s Dad raised her and her brother until he died tragically when Sarah was just eight years old. What followed next were several weeks of confusion and trauma...
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Ep. 65 Lord Mayor Hazel Chu on Racism, Discrimination and Grief
A conversation with Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu on Racism, Discrimination and Grief. #grief #racism #discrimination About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by...
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Ep. 64 Adrienne Freeland on how horses supported her grief after her brother's suicide
An outdoor horse girl, the bereavement group in a dingy basement just didn't work for Adrienne Freeland after her brother died by suicide. Seeing a problem that needed fixing, Adrienne contacted her local hospice to talk about setting up an alternative kind of bereavement group; in her barn with...
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Ep. 63 Carrie Thompson on Climbing 48 Mountains following her son's death by suicide
In 2019, Carrie Thompson's worst nightmare came true when her beautiful son Ben died by suicide. In December 2020, Carrie had an article published in the New York Times that documented her journey through the NH48 - the 48 highest peaks of New Hampshire, a challenge she set herself to pay homage…
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About this show
Shapes of Grief is brought to you by Liz Gleeson, an Irish grief therapist. Liz hosts conversations with people about their experience of loss and grief in their lives. Through the recounting of our grief stories, integration can begin to happen, both for the teller and the listener. Everyone has a story of loss and everyone's story offers hope and inspiration to other grievers. Sharing these stories with each other can go a long way in normalising this human experience. Please do become a Patron on https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief for as little as $5 per month, help keep us going!
Hosted by
Liz Gleeson, Grief Specialist, MSc Bereavement, MA Psychotherapy, PhD Student