Friends Missing Friends

In today’s episode I talk to Sarah Khatau about her beloved friend Georgina, her experience with friend-loss grief, and Help Texts – a bereavement support tool that helped her tremendously after the death of her father in 2018. MORE ABOUT SARAH:After the death of her father in 2018, and through the many losses that have shaped her life since, including the death of her dear friend Georgina, Sarah Khatau shifted her career into bereavement support, eventually finding her way to Help Texts as a subscriber herself before joining the team. Today she works alongside hospices, hospitals, employers, andcaregiver organizations across the US and Canada to bring meaningful, personalized support to families navigating loss and serious illness. Sarah is also a trauma-based counsellor supporting sexual assault survivors, and brings that same depth of care and lived understanding to her grief work. She is passionate about making grief support more accessible, less stigmatized, and easier for organizations to offer atscale, and believes deeply in the power of showing up for people in the quiet, in-between moments when they need it most.Learn more about Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkhatau/Try Help Texts at a special price! https://helptexts.com/sign-up/friendsmissingfriends RESOURCES:Grief Groups: The Friends Missing Friends Collective is a loving and supportive online community of friend-loss grievers. If you join, you get group support, 1:1 support, digital support, and a digital resource library of external resources. Only $20/month! Sign up or learn more at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠PROMO: Want to try it to see if the community is a goodfit? *Get your first month free* with code PLATONICLOVEHelp Texts: Get mental health & bereavement support via text (written by professionals, not AI). You also have the option to invite 2 loved ones to receive a weekly text with practical tips and reminders for how they can support you as you grieve.PROMO: Get a discounted rate at https://helptexts.com/sign-up/friendsmissingfriendsMemorial Books:Want to create a beautiful, long-lasting memorial book foryour loved one? PROMO: Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comLeave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today’s episode I talk to Tess Clarkson about friend-loss grief, her beloved friend Eithne, and the act of finding meaning and healing through creative writing. We chat about:How she met her dear friend Eithne (pronounced Eth-na) through danceThe story of their friendshipFeeling lost, isolated, and misunderstood after Eithne’s sudden and tragic death on Air France 447The yoga retreat in India that helped her start to find her wayThe many healers she reached out to over the yearsHow creative writing has helped her heal and process through "stuck" feelingsThe memoir she is writing about their friendship and her griefAnd more… MORE ABOUT TESS:Tess is a writer, death doula, and life optimizer—a Reiki master, yoga teacher, and certified astrologer—who helps people tap into their inner guru and tackle taboos.Website: https://tessclarkson.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetessclarksonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetessclarkson/Substack: https://substack.com/@tessclarkson  Articles: https://www.thegirlfriend.com/relationships/what-a-real-end-of-life-doula-reveals-about-death  https://www.yourtango.com/heartbreak/how-clairvoyant-finally-healed-tragic-death-friend RESOURCES:Grief Groups: The Friends Missing Friends Collective is a loving and supportive community of friend-loss grievers. Sign up or learn more at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Get your first month free with code PLATONICLOVEMemorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comLeave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!  

In today’s episode I talk to Novelette Monroe, a multiple loss survivor, trained Hospice and Peer Bereavement Care Facilitator, and certified Mindfulness & Grief Coach. She has facilitated many bereavement groups over the years with a special interest in Mindfulness for Grieving Loss. Novelette was born with the Recessive Dystrophic form of Epidermolysis Bullosa, RDEB—a rare life-limiting, progressive, and chronic condition. She was fortunate enough to develop lasting connections with others with RDEB when, at age 12, she attended a summer camp for children with skin disorders sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology. The friendships she formed at camp became her life source for having folks in her life who knew what it is like to live in a body with this rare disease. In this conversation we talk about:how the friends she met at camp became her chosen family; friends who showed her what was possible: “if you can see her, you can be her.” the devastation and grief after the death of her beloved friendshow she’s coped, and how mindfulness and bereavement groups have supported her over the years.  MORE ABOUT NOVELETTE:Follow Novelette’s Grieving and Living Consciously socials:Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567169300477Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bi1k3HVfW/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grieving_living_consciously/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSx8Qj30l8JoTceOrRUTww RESOURCES:Information on self-compassion practices and meditations: https://self-compassion.orgHeather Stang’s mindfulness & grief website: https://heatherstang.com/ Heather Stang’s books: https://heatherstang.com/heather-stang-grief-books/Grief Groups: The Friends Missing Friends Collective is a loving and supportive community of friend-loss grievers. Sign up or learn more at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Memorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends. Learn more at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comLeave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

I’m so excited to announce a new offering!! It is the Friends Missing Friends Collective, a loving and supportive community for friend-loss grievers. I have found, time and time again, how we friend-loss grievers desire community where we can meet and gather with others who are also grieving friends. How we need a space where we can feel seen, heard, and understood. So, I wanted to create a friend-loss community via an affordable monthly membership—so folks can join anytime and stay as long as they need.  Membership includes: 2 virtual grief groups a monthA one-on-one sessionA digital resource libraryA Private Discord Server (so you can chat with other friend-loss grievers any time!)SPECIAL OFFER: If you email me or fill out the interest form before December 31st, I will give you the special lifetime “Founding Friends” price of $12/month—because you will be a Founding member! After launch, the general price will be $20.All you have to do to hold your spot is: Email me at [email protected] OR, fill out an interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroupY’ALL I’m so excited!! Fireworks went off inside me when I decided to move forward with this – this can grow into something truly beautiful, I just know it. Because when we come together—healing happens.  RESOURCES:Grief Groups:Register your interest for the Friends Missing Friends Collective and get 2 virtual grief groups a month: friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroupMemorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love! 

In today's episode, I chat with Tara Accardo—a Grief & Transformational Life coach and the host of the podcast Life With Grief—about finding a joyful, fulfilling, and meaningful life again after loss. Grief expert David Kessler describes this as the “sixth stage of grief” in his book Finding Meaning. Now to be crystal clear: this is NOT referring to finding meaning in the death or horrific event, it’s referring to finding meaning in your life after the loss. “Finding meaning” is different for everyone. It might involve completely changing your life; it might be folded into small but significant moments. For many people, it’s when we try to answer the question “what now?” after a loved one’s death. Tara and I talk about this, and much more, including:Finding solace and healing in micro-momentsHow the grieving process cannot be rushedReclaiming power over your lifeCoping during acute griefBeing curious and giving yourself graceQUOTES:“We are truly so much more in charge of our healing and our coping than we think we are…we are in charge of how we grieve, how we cope, our happiness, what our day to day looks like; there is so much that is actually within our power.” –Tara “If you look at it from a place of curiosity, you’re giving yourself much more grace.” –Tara“From personal experience, that ‘what now’ can be so overwhelming. And it’s ever evolving, I feel like I’ve gone through several ‘what nows’…” –Hannah “There’s a whole life now, that you have to ‘figure out’ without that person.” –Tara“The idea of continuing a relationship with them even after they died…for years I was like, ‘oh the friendship was over,’ after my friend died. But then I’m like, wait I can keep this friendship going somehow. And the ‘how’ is the journey, figuring out how to do that. That is also folded into the finding meaning and finding new purpose.” –Hannah“After a loss that rocks your world; it's like your life was thishouse of cards, and it all falls, and you have to build an entirely new house of cards.” –Hannah“I feel like a lot of people want to rush the grief, they just want to feel some peace and just not hurt so bad… it can’t be rushed, but it can certainly be helped along.” –Tara MORE ABOUT TARA: Tara Accardo (she/her) is a Grief and Transformational life Coach and host of the Life With Grief Podcast. After losing her parents to cancer within six months of each other, her journey of grieving led her to create Losses Become Gains—a community for fellow grievers that serves tools, inspiration, and guidance on how to navigate grief, loss, and navigating life with both in tow. Through her podcast, one-on-one coaching and other digital resources, Tara’s passion and calling to support fellow grievers runs deep! RESOURCES:Connect with Tara:IG: @lossesbecomegainsIG and TikTok: @lifewithgriefpodcastWebsite: https://lossesbecomegains.com/Life with Grief podcastThe book Tara recommended: The Grieving Brain, by Mary-Frances O’ConnorGrief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Memorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get$50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today’s Grief Note episode I talk about a time when I untangled a toxic belief—or story—I was holding related to my friend Lauren’s death. It’s not uncommon for us to create stories around our loss. David Kessler talks about how when we create a story “that is not true and is not helpful,” we can “get stuck in the narrative.” In other words, stories can complicate our grief.There are a million different stories we may tell ourselves around a loss. Such as, “it’s my fault they died,” “I was a bad friend/daughter/partner/parent because _____,” “I will never be happy again,” and on and on and on. I found that I was able to untangle my story—which had become a knot in my heart—by writing about it. By switching perspectives, I was able to recognize that 1.) my story wasn’t true or helpful, and 2.) I had the power to stop believing it.  RESOURCES:Grief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Memorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get$50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today's episode, I chat with Rachel Dwyer and Kendel Rogers—the co-hosts of the podcast 2 Girls with Grief about integrating grief into your life, rather than emotionally severing. What do we mean by integrate? We mean rather than shoving the grief aside, pretending it doesn’t exist, and putting on a mask to the world—we embrace the grief, feel it fully, and show the world our WHOLE selves.We make comparisons to the show Severance (don’t worry, no spoilers!), and how it is a perfect metaphor for the idea of emotional severance as we grieve. All three of us used to emotionally sever, and through finding community, digging deep into our emotions, and rewriting our stories, we integrated grief into our life and now feel much more whole.   QUOTES:“I used to see my grief as a dark shadow that followed me and trying to like shove it away and put it in the corner and pretend it wasn’t there. And now I’ve learned how to incorporate it into me, because it’s what has happened.” – Kendel“Because grief is so misunderstood, I misunderstood my own grief. I didn’t know what to feel and I felt so lost and sad, but it just seemed like you’re supposed to be over it and you’re supposed to move on from it…I just felt like I was in 2 different worlds: I portrayed myself as fine, but was crying at night or just really sad. And it was a really weird feeling of having two lives.” – Rachel"Grievers still deserve a happy life and grievers still deserve joy." – Kendel“I thought getting up every day and not staying in bed all day,was me doing everything. No one would look at me and be like ‘she’s depressed’… So in my head I’m like, I’m doing fine…it took a while, and it wasn’t until last year that I was like ‘I’m going to try something different.’” – Rachel“It's almost like now I'm in this walk with my grief. I'm not running from it. I'm not hiding from it.” – Kendel“How can I experience real joy WITH grief, and not separately? Because before it was always like, I’m happy but my grief is separate. But it’s like, no it’s all together, and how do I make that make sense to me in this world?” – Rachel “If you’re going to try to outrun your grief, it will come back. You can’t hide from it, you can’t shove it away in a box, we’ve tried that and you can learn from us.” – Kendel MORE ABOUT RACHEL AND KENDEL: Rachel Dwyer is based in San Francisco and Co-hosts the 2 Girls with Grief Podcast & the Griefy Girls Book Club with Kendel Rogers. Kendel Rogers is one half of the 2 Girls with Grief podcast & the Griefy Girls Book Club. After losing her father in 2020, she wanted to have more in depth conversations about death and grief. Along with destigmatizing the taboo around death and grief, she volunteers with The Warm Place, a grief support center for children in Fort Worth, TX. RESOURCES:Connect with 2 Girls with Grief:IG: @racheldwyerinsf / @2girlswithgriefpod / @griefygirlsbookclubTikTok: @racheldwyerinsf / @2girlswithgriefpodGrief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Memorial Books:Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today's episode, I chat with guest Des Mathews (they them), a Yoga Guide and Grief & Death Doula, about the intersections between yoga philosophies and grief. Key takeaways:the role of Ahimsa (non-harm, one of the 5 Yamas) in self-compassion during griefsurrendering to emotions with Ishvaraparidhana (divine surrender, one of the 5 Niyamas)Supporting somatic healing and nervous system regulation with Asana (the movements and poses)Cultural differences in grieving friend-loss griefhow capitalism has contributed to a society that devalues friendshipsand more! QUOTES:“…feelings might come up and it’s completely normal in our journey with grief, and with that I recommend more gentle yoga or restorative practices.”“yoga can be used as a resource for calming our nervous system.” “there’s no timeline for our grief, and it’s very cyclical. When we can come to that place of acceptance, it goes back to the compassion piece where we’re able to give ourselves and others more grace.”  “Traditionally yoga was seen as a practice to end suffering and cause liberation, cause freedom.” “You're only allowed a certain amount of days off if your mom dies or your partner dies, but what about your best friend? Your best friend could have been your life partner,right? Society just doesn't seem to care as much about that. And again, that goes into the whole diminishing of it, which makes us feel like we're kind of gaslighting ourselves in a way. Like, did this person even exist? Because it's not recognized, people aren't showing me that it matters.”MORE ABOUT DES: Des is a Queer, South East Asian trauma-informed Yoga Guide and Grief and Death Doula who is a settler on Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough, Ontario. They host yoga practices, grief circles, and workshops in person and virtually. They are intentional about where they show up and lead with values of generosity, interdependence, compassion, honesty, and authenticity.RESOURCES:Connect with Des:IG: @death.and.yogaEmail: [email protected]’s recommendation to dive deeper into yoga: SusannaBarkataki at https://www.susannabarkataki.com/Grief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Lifebooks: Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get$50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today’s Grief Note episode I share my thoughts about liminal space – a term I read about in the book “The Art of Holding Space” by Heather Plett.  In the book, Heather Plett describes liminal space as: “a period in which something—social hierarchy, culture, belief, tradition, identity, etc.—has been dissolved and the new thing has not yet emerged to take its place.” It’s “strange, vast, and sometimes uncomfortable, a space full of complex and often overlapping emotions.”  When I read all that I thought, welp. Crap. That’s definitely what I’m in the midst of right now.   So. In this Grief Note, I talk about it! Because when you feel lost, I figure the best thing you can do is voice your lost-nessout loud. After all, liminal space is very intertwined with grief.  RESOURCES:The Art of Holding Space by Heather PlettGrief Groups:Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Lifebooks: Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today's episode, I chat with guest Brendan Shaw about navigating the many complex layers of tragedy and grief, and finding new purpose in life, after a traumatic loss. Since the 2022 murder of his brother, Philip, Brendan has been using storytelling, social media, and community work to process his own grief and help others feel less alone in theirs. We discuss:Processing his feelings and thoughts through social media, and how his videos have resonated with millions of strangers around the worldExploring healing through small shifts: even 1% at a timeFinding purpose in life again after a traumatic lossDealing with the broken legal systemAnd moreQUOTES:“…even a small shift in mindset can make a huge difference moving forward for somebody. If through this pain I’m experiencing on a daily basis I can give any kind of insight to somebody who’s hurting also, I don’t know any better purpose.”“Philip was objectively one of the best people you would have ever known. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t absolutely love him. He was charming and funny and witty. He had a boyish, childish playfulness to him…sweet and funny and real and knew how to deliver a stupid corny dad joke at the right time…he’s just the best.” “When you lose someone really important to you, all of the sudden time takes on a completely different meaning. A day can feel like forever, but then you wake up and you’re like how am I three years into this? I haven’t seen my brother in three years? That’s not possible. He’s right at the forefront of my mind.”  “When you’ve gone through those super low lows, where you just feel like you’re about to die of sadness…but then somehow, you did get out of it…once you do that enough times, you have that repetition – now you have the muscle built where you can maybe start to step outside it and recognize when you’re in the moment and go ‘okay, I have been here before. I’ve also gotten out of this before, and I know that it will happen.’” MORE ABOUT BRENDAN: Brendan is the founder of The Phil With Love Foundation, a nonprofit created in Philip’s memory, and creates content as "BrendanShawGrief" on social media that speaks to the often invisible, long-term impact of loss. Through honest conversation and a willingness to share what most people shy away from, Brendan attempts to brings comfort, validation, and connection to anyone walking through life with grief.RESOURCES:Connect with Brendan:IG, Tiktok: @BrendanShawGrief Website: BrendanShawGrief.comGrief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-losspeer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Lifebooks: Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get$50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

In today's episode, guest Amber Jeffrey shares stories about her beloved friend Poppy Chancellor, who died in September of 2023. The two of them met through their grief work in 2019 – Amber with The Grief Gang, and Poppy with The GriefCase – and what followed was a deep, loving friendship and creative partnership. QUOTES:“That’s a real aspect of friendship loss that maybe isn’t spoken about is how, when you choose people to be in your life and you actively build a friendship – and for that to die, for them to die – is catastrophic. Our friends are the foundations in our lives.” “It’s so difficult to explain her, because she was just so one ofone...to try and do that justice, to try and tell people about her, just felt like I was always failing.”“We straightaway realized we had the commonalities of our passion for grief. As we got to know each other, we really enjoyed each other outside of grief...like our shared love of music, or just silliness...we could just chew the fat about anything, and we just had a lot of fun.” “The grief of losing her is just insurmountable...Poppy cracked my world right open. She was technicolor.”  MORE ABOUT AMBER: Amber Jeffrey is a celebrated podcast host, mentor and community facilitator. Her work & podcast, The Grief Gang, specialises in breaking down the stigma around the topic that is grief one conversation at a time. By sharing her own experiences of loss as well as the stories of others on both her show and online platforms.Through Amber’s passionate voice she has gone on to deliver talks & panel discussions at the University of Cambridge, Oxford, Westminster for the UK commission on bereavement and many other corporate entities. The podcast has gained traction in its life span of 5 years and has been recognised and amplified by many news & media outlets such as The BBC, Vogue, Women’s health, The Guardian and many more. With interviews on Woman’s hour, Channel 5 & BBC 1Xtra, Amber is no stranger to being behind the mic and delivering compelling, insightful and humorous interviews on the topic of grief. RESOURCES:Connect with Amber:IG, Tiktok, Facebook: The Grief GangWebsite: www.thegriefgang.comGrief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Lifebooks: Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get$50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/ GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

Today’s episode is a little different: I share my thoughts on various grief topics – while taking a walk! I was inspired by Amber Jeffrey’s recent episode on her awesome podcast The Grief Gang, and wanted to give it a try (all credit goes to her for the idea!). Think of it as a voice note from a friend :) I’ll still continue to do interviews on the pod, but will also have these Grief Notes every once in a while (especially now that summer is coming to Chicago!) In this Grief Note, I muse about: Creative blocks I’m having with my memoirContinuing my friendship with LaurenMy desire for communityAnd more! RESOURCES:Grief Groups: Interested in joining a friend-loss peer support group? Fill out the interest form at ⁠⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup⁠Lifebooks: Want to create a memorial book for your loved one? Get $50-off with affiliate code friendsmissingfriends, or go directly to this link. Learn more about Lifebooks at https://lifebooks.io/GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends⁠Leave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

Just a heads up: today's episode discusses mother-loss. If that's activating or upsetting, please take care of yourself. David Kessler has great resources for mother-loss grief at mothersdaygrief.com.In today's episode, I chat with Diandra Ford-Wing, a dynamic and innovative Sales Director whose profound journey through grief ignited her passion for storytelling. After the sudden loss of her mother, Diandra made the courageous decision to pause her thriving career, allowing herself the space to heal and reflect. This transformative experience ultimately inspired her debut novel, "Red Bird," a heartfelt exploration of loss and resilience.   Diandra and I chat about: How we all express and experience grief differentlyUsing writing as a tool for processing griefSigns from our loved onesHonoring our loved ones’ legaciesAnd more!RESOURCES:Mother-loss Resources:mothersdaygrief.comConnect with Diandra:IG: www.instagram.com/diandrafordwingWebsite: booksbydiandra.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diandrafordwingGrief Groups: If you’re interested in being a part of avirtual peer support friend-loss group, fill out the interest form at ⁠friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup GET IN TOUCH:Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!Email: [email protected]: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriendsLeave a Voicemail at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781 Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so). Thanks y’all! Sending you love!

Today I chat with Toby Dorr, author of Living with Conviction and You Are Not Your Worst Mistake: Poems From Prison. Toby is a speaker and advocate for second chances and criminal justice reform. If you haven’t already, check out my other episode with Toby (18. Living With Conviction) – you don’t want to miss it! In this episode, Toby and I talk about her poetry book You Are Not Your Worst Mistake, and the unexpected sisterhood and lifelong friendships that she experienced while behind bars.   Toby and I chat about: The power of stories and poetry The importance of sisterhood and true friendshipPoems from her bookSelf-acceptance And more! Resources: To get in touch with Toby or learn more about her, check out her websites and podcast! Websites: https://tobydorr.com/https://2dorrsdown.com/⁠https://fiercepublications.com/⁠⁠https://theunleashedseries.com/Check out her journals here: https://fiercegracemovement.org/Podcast: Fierce Conversations with Toby Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s SO appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! Grief Groups: If you’re interested in being a part of a virtual peer support friend-loss group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup Email: [email protected]: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriendsLeave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781 Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all! Sending you love!).

Today I chat with Ken Barringer, a licensed mental health counselor who provides individual and group counseling support to grievers as well as delivering training and consultation to schools, businesses and organizations following a loss. Ken is an adjunct faculty member at Lesley University in Cambridge Mass where he designed and teaches a course in grief. Additionally he produces a monthly newsletter and hosts the podcast Grief in Brief. Ken and I chat about:The difference between empathy and compassionHow crucial it is to ACKNOWLEDGE someone’s griefHow grief can manifest in any or all of the 5planes: emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritualGrief and attachmentHow to respond with compassion to someone who isgrieving How grief evolves over timeSelf-compassion How grief is portrayed in the mediaAnd more! Resources: To get in touch with Ken or learn more about him, check out his website and podcast! Website: www.healingforgriefandloss.comPodcast: Grief in Brief Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! Grief Groups: If you’re interested in being a part of a virtualpeer support friend-loss group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup Email: [email protected]: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriendsLeave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781 Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. (And if you want me to share your voice clip on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all! Sending you love!).

Hi friends! Today’s episode is quite different. Rather than an interview, this is me giving you a real-time update of my grief journey right after hearing some very important news about the man responsible for my friend Lauren’s death. This is sort of a Part 2 to episode 68 (My friend’s death is part of a True Crime. Can I talk about it?), though you don’t have to listen to that one for this one to make sense. I go into the crime in a bit more detail in this episode, so it could be triggering or upsetting.  TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault and rape.  Today I talk about: Gratuitous versus conscientious true crime The pursuit of justice The complexity of grief intertwined with rage Forgiveness is a personal journey Finding hope in justice What happens after justice? Where do I put my grief?   Resources: https://grief.com/resources/If you or anyone you know is struggling, you can also reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988.  Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! If you’re interested in being a part of a friend-loss grief group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup Email: [email protected]: @friendsmissingfriendsWebsite: friendsmissingfriends.comSpotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriendsLeave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. I will respond! (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all! Sending you love)

Today I chat with Rebecca Feinglos, grief expert and founder of Grieve Leave. Rebecca is a certified grief support specialist, startup founder, and former state and local policy advisor. Rebecca founded Grieve Leave in 2021 as a way to document her experience on a year-long grief sabbatical, and process her own grief and loss— she lost her mother in her teens, her father suddenly in 2020, and her marriage in a drawn-out divorce. Grieve Leave has grown into a global community of 30,000 with online reach well into the millions that provides tangible takeaways, resources, and a healthy dose of humor, creating an entire movement around taking intentional time to grieve.   Rebecca and I chat about: How friend-loss is a disenfranchised grief, and how that affects our grieving process Rebecca’s dear friend Courtney, who died 3 weeks before recording this episode – the complexity of the grief, Courtney’s celebration of life, and more The state of bereavement leave in workplaces (spoiler alert: it’s not great), and how it could be better If you’re unsure whether or not you should attend the funeral – attend the funeral! Grief is not logical The limit to grief (and love) do not exist! How grief can coexist with joy And more!   Resources: To get in touch with Rebecca or learn more about her, check out her website, podcast, and socials! Website: Grieveleave.com Podcast: Grief'd Up The Podcast Socials: @grieveleave   Rebecca’s book recommendation: Grief is Love by Marisa Renee Lee   Some of my fave quotes from this episode: “Grief will suffocate you if you don't make room for it.” “We need more grief-informed workplaces.” “Grief and love are totally intertwined.” “Always go to the funeral.” “Grief isn't logical.” “Your grief is valid, no matter the relationship.” “The limit to grief does not exist.” (catch the Mean Girls reference here?) “A life well lived is full of grief.” “You have built close relationships with people if you are grieving.” “The grief that we feel is totally parallel to the amount of joy we’ve experienced in our lives.”   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!   If you’re interested in being a part of a friend-grief group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends Leave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781   Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. I will respond! (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all! Sending you love!).

Today’s episode is all about friendships. I talk to my guest Sydney about the book “Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship” by Kayleen Schaefer. This book includes history, sociological perspectives, research, and more, about how female friendships have evolved and changed over the years. (Surprise surprise, the Patriarchy has impacted how female friendships have been treated throughout history. So, yeah -- some of the history might make you mad…) Sydney and I chat about: How friendships have been valued differently over the years The “tend and befriend” response to stress How there’s so much focus on one friend or partner being your “everything” How friendships are portrayed in the media How throughout history, classical philosophers and religious leaders told women to not befriend or trust other women (ugh!!) And more!    Resources: Read “Text Me When You Get Home” by Kayleen Schaefer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35268117-text-me-when-you-get-home Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! If you’re interested in being a part of a friend-loss grief group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends Leave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781   Feel free to reach out by email or VM. I will respond! (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all!).

Today it’s just me, thinking out loud about something I’ve been grappling with for a while: if my friend died in a situation that is now a True Crime, can I talk about it? I speak about this struggle, and also what I learned in Lilly Dancyger's essay collection "First Love" about how to engage in conscientious, rather than gratuitous, True-Crime. Resources: Read “The Hot One” by Carolyn Murnick: https://www.carolynmurnick.com/the-hot-one Read “First Love” by Lilly Dancyger: https://www.lillydancyger.com/books   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! If you’re interested in being a part of a friend-grief group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends Leave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781   Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. I will respond! (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all!).

Today we’re hearing from Ariel, a listener who shares her story of grieving a friend she was disconnected from at the time of their death. It’s so important to talk about this, and I don’t think we talk about it enough. Thank you so much, Ariel, for reaching out and sharing your story.   Resources: If you’re interested in being a part of a friend-grief group, fill out the interest form at friendsmissingfriends.com/griefgroup   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends Leave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781   Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. I will respond! (And if you want me to share it on the podcast, be sure to explicitly give me permission to do so. Thanks y’all!).

How do you process your grief when an ex-friend has passed away? Today I talk to Alex Kuisis about the complicated and messy grief that can come after an ex-friend’s death – in her case, the death of a friend who had majorly betrayed her—falsely accusing her of 7 felonies she did not commit (which she details in her memoir Truth Matters, Love Wins).   Alex describes the complex tangle of feelings that came with this kind of loss, and how she chooses to focus on the happy memories, rather than the bad. We also talk about signs from loved ones who have passed, deciding how we want to remember someone, assigning meaning in our life, and more. I want to mention too, that grieving a former friend/ex friend/distanced friend, whatever you want to call it—can look a million different ways. Alex’s experience might be very different from yours—and both are valid. We all grieve in different colors and shades. It’s the beauty of the universality and also the complexity of the human experience. If you haven’t already, listen to my other episode with Alex (Episode 5: My Best Friend Katie). You can learn more about Alex at www.goaskalex.org   Resources: Get your copy of Alex Kuisis’ book Truth Matters, Love Wins at https://www.goaskalex.org/truthmatterslovewins.html   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends Leave a VM at FMF’s google voice number: 312-291-1781   Feel free to reach out, by email or VM. I will respond!

So you’ve sent flowers and cards to the bereaved, and attended the funeral. Now what? If you’ve ever wondered how to support your loved ones who are grieving – far beyond the initial weeks of grief – you don’t want to miss this episode. My conversation today is with author and psychotherapist Aly Bird about her book Grief Ally, which teaches us how to support the bereaved.   We talk about: Her book Grief Ally and how to support the bereaved How to use love languages in your support Supporting the bereaved WILL involve making mistakes and that’s okay! Secondary losses And more   Aly Bird is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who is changing the way our culture recognizes and supports those who are grieving. Aly is the author of Grief Ally: Helping People You Love to Cope with Death, Loss, and Grief. Beyond writing, Aly offers virtual therapy and coaching to youth and adults in advance of death or after as well as supporting individuals who are actively dying themselves. Aly is also a speaker who is passionate about teaching beginners that grief is unique to every individual, natural to being a human being, and deserving of more attention than is usually given in the world today.   To learn more about Aly, visit www.alybird.com Connect with Aly on social media @thealybird Join her Facebook Group Grief Ally Nation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880590376440855/   Resources: Get your copy of Aly Bird’s book Grief Ally at https://alybird.com/book/   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review —it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners! Email: [email protected] Instagram: @friendsmissingfriends Website: friendsmissingfriends.com Spotify for Podcasts page: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends If you have a question, want to reach out, or want to share a story with the podcast listeners, leave a VM at our google voice number: 312-291-1781

Today I talk to Jenna Golias, the founder of The Light Hereafter. She is a Registered Nurse, End of Life Doula, Grief Educator, and Energy Practitioner. Her mission is to not only change how we provide end of life care, but to create a world where we no longer fear the end of it. Providing mind, body, and soul support at the end of life, she is dedicated to making the transition one of comfort and peace.  You can learn more about Jenna here: IG: @thelighthereafter Website: https://www.thelighthereafter.com/ On today's episode, Jenna and I talk about the work she does as an End of Life Doula (which is another word for Death Doula), how our society deals with grief, how grief has affected how we approach life, and so much more. We also talk about: how our attachment style affects our grief how regularly thinking about death and mortality can increase happiness living in the present moment what our End of Life plans would be and more!   Resources: Find out more about End of Life Doulas here: https://inelda.org/ Find an End of Life Doula near you: https://inelda.org/find-a-doula/   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review—it’s so appreciated, and it helps the podcast reach more listeners!   You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip on the Spotify for Podcasts page https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/friendsmissingfriends, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Rob Farquhar, a Sydney voiceover talent and podcaster. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to check out my previous conversation with Rob in Episode 59: Life’s Too Short to Rush. In that episode, Rob was getting ready to make a big move across the country, and we talked about what it looks like to redesign your life, friendships, and relationships after a major loss. Today’s episode was recorded one year after Episode 59, and we talk about how his big move went, how he’s been redesigning his life, what it’s like to build a community of new friends, and so much more. We also talk about: defining friendships in a way that works for you the idea of friends being equally as important as romantic partners, rather than a hierarchy self-care and self-reflection life transitions (and walking towards something rather than running away) living a life outside of society’s expectations of marriage and nuclear families You can learn more about Rob here: http://www.robf.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/RadioRobVO/ Twitter/Instagram: @gmradiorob Facebook: Rob.Farquhar     Get in touch:   Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk all about dreams with Alejandro Salinas, including: Dreams we’ve had about dead loved ones Connecting with our dead loved ones How dreams help us to process emotions Lucid dreaming And more! Alejandro is one of the co-founders and current president of the Chicago Death Doula Collective, a non-profit collective dedicated to providing support, advocacy, education, and care around death and dying in Chicago. It was formed in 2020 not long after the death of his father. He has hosted death cafés for 6 years and has recently created The Coffin Cards, a deck of 115 questions about death, dying, and grief, and The Coffin Cards Podcast to have even more conversations on the topic with various guests. He fronts the Chicano goth rock / post punk band Grave Love. He teaches yoga twice a week at Chi Yoga Shack, practices massage, and is a former teacher at The Soma Institute. He previously co-hosted The Dream Freaks podcast with Tree Carr and Jennifer Claroscura.   Check out the Chicago Death Doula Collective here: https://www.chicagodeathdoulacollective.com/ Check out The Coffin Cards here: https://www.thecoffincards.com/ Listen to The Coffin Cards podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qbCOZBv0Iz2JBXKwJDl8E?si=fed7283b70494b37&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=c98b898b6b324204 Follow the band Grave Love @grave_love_band   Resources: The list of books Alejandro recommended: The Toltec Secret: Dreaming Practices of the Ancient Mexicans: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21535017-the-toltec-secret   The Art of Dreaming: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12847.The_Art_of_Dreaming   Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4803306-lucid-dreaming   Dreaming through Darkness: Shine Light into the Shadow to Live the Life of Your Dreams: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34196974-dreaming-through-darkness   Man’s Search for Meaning: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

If you're looking for a film about friendship and grief, look no further! Dan Levy's 2023 film Good Grief is about a man mourning the loss of his husband as his two best friends help him on his journey of grief. (SPOILER alert: I don't give away juicy details but I do discuss the main character's emotional arc related plot points -- if you don't like to know anything before a film then just be aware!) I also talk about how the movie acknowledges the nuances and complexity of grief, the realities of supporting a grieving person, some of my favorite quotes, and more! Do I recommend the film? Yes! Maybe just grab some tissues first. Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Sydney Bauer about what it’s like to grieve a friend who’s still alive. When she was in high school, her best friend of 9 years abruptly ended their friendship, leaving her reeling. We talk about what that’s like, including: How grief isn’t just mourning the past, but the future too The importance of friendships The long-term effects of losing your best friend at such an impressionable age How to set healthy boundaries And more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Rob Farquhar, a Sydney voiceover talent and podcaster, about redesigning his life after a major loss. After the loss of his wife of eighteen years, Rob is moving back to be closer to his longtime friends. We talk about adult friendships, making big life changes after loss, and how the good stuff’s on the other side of fear. And a lot of that requires patience, not rushing the grieving or building of new relationships, and better getting to know ourselves and what we really want.   You can learn more about Rob here: http://www.robf.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/RadioRobVO/ Twitter/Instagram: @gmradiorob Facebook: Rob.Farquhar   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Shannon MacFarlane (she/they). Shannon is a compassionate, creative, kind, and quirky human who enjoys being outside, hoarding eclectic information, scratching dog and cat butts, and snacks. She's working on her PhD in psychology with an emphasis in Thanatology. She supports mourning and grieving humans with art and education. Learn more about Shannon at www.slobberedlens.com and @slobberedlens (Facebook and Instagram) Shannon and I discuss How photography helps her be present with the big emotions, and revisit the intense emotions later Including the whole spectrum of emotions in grief Examining our personal history And more! Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

This episode is a little different and special -- it takes place in the car, on a road trip with my friend Michele! We talk about: the book Big Friendship what friendship means to us loneliness and creating our own community what we want from our life moving forward (And lots of laughter and silliness!). Resources: Read the book Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52766000-big-friendship   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Silvia Freeman, a Corporate Health & Well-being Facilitator / Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, EFT Practitioner, and Breathwork Facilitator. She loves teaching and facilitating workshops, where staff learn different ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, expressing their emotions, and learning how to become emotionally fit and healthy. Silvia teaches how to manage big emotions, how to move through them, especially grief, anxiety, stress, burnout, panic attacks, feeling overwhelmed, anger, sadness, and depression. Silvia also runs events and courses such as a 6-month membership Art of Emotions, Corporate workshops, and Back to Work in 9 Hours program. To learn more about or connect with Silvia: Her website: https://eznlp.co.uk/ Her Instagram: instagram.com/silvia.freeman   Today, Sylvia and I discuss: What it means to soften grief and let it move through the body How to use breathwork and tapping to soften the grief The importance of feeling our big emotions (“what comes out of the body will never make you sick”) And more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today is part 2 of my conversation with Jorin Garguilo, a teacher and longtime member of the Chicago improv community (for Part 1, check out episode 52!). Jorin is a Wisconsin-born, North Carolina-educated, Chicago based improvisor. Jorin began improvising in 1991 at ComedyWorx in Raleigh, North Carolina, and since 2004 has performed, taught, and coached at theaters across Chicago, the country, and the world. He was a founding member of Rainbow Deli at CIC and Revolver at iO. Jorin has written and currently teaches the ensemble curriculum in CIC’s training program. For info on improv shows or classes, check out @cictheater on Instagram.   Today, Jorin and I discuss: Grieving friends individually versus as a collective How hard it is to make friends as an adult The importance of telling our friends we love them And more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠, send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: ⁠friendsmissingfriends.com⁠.

Today I talk to Jorin Garguilo, a teacher and longtime member of the Chicago improv community (I've taken his improv classes, and can attest that he's an incredible teacher and performer!). Jorin is a Wisconsin-born, North Carolina-educated, Chicago based improvisor. Jorin began improvising in 1991 at ComedyWorx in Raleigh, North Carolina, and since 2004 has performed, taught, and coached at theaters across Chicago, the country, and the world. He was a founding member of Rainbow Deli at CIC and Revolver at iO. Jorin has written and currently teaches the ensemble curriculum in CIC’s training program. For info on improv shows or classes, check out @cictheater on Instagram.   Today, Jorin and I discuss: Honoring and remembering his friend Mike Enriquez The idea of carrying on someone’s essence and identity The ephemeral nature of improv and life And more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!    You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today is Part 2 of my conversation with the amazing and talented Tekquiree, the founder of “Thrive Beyond Cancer” (for Part 1, check out episode 50!).   Her bio: “My name is Tekquiree, and I am a Cancer Thriver. When I was only 34 years old; and 36 weeks pregnant with my son Jace (his name means healer), I was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer. By the grace of God, I welcomed a healthy baby boy and was healed 4-months later. I attribute my healing to my faith in God, my community, countless resources, and combining both holistic and conventional medicine.”   Learn more about her at https://tekquiree.com/ and https://thrivebeyondcancer.org   Today, Tekquiree and I discuss: A card she got from her friend Natasha before her passing How death has changed our view on life How we want to live life to the fullest And more!   Resources: Check out “Thrive Beyond Cancer” here: https://thrivebeyondcancer.org   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Tekquiree, the amazing and talented founder of “Thrive Beyond Cancer.”   Her bio: “My name is Tekquiree, and I am a Cancer Thriver. When I was only 34 years old; and 36 weeks pregnant with my son Jace (his name means healer), I was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer. By the grace of God, I welcomed a healthy baby boy and was healed 4-months later. I attribute my healing to my faith in God, my community, countless resources, and combining both holistic and conventional medicine.” Learn more about her at https://tekquiree.com/ and https://thrivebeyondcancer.org Today, Tekquiree and I discuss: How a cancer diagnosis has changed her view on life Giving people grace Grieving the death of her childhood friend Natasha The healing power of getting to say goodbye Seeing every day as a gift And more!   Resources: Check out “Thrive Beyond Cancer” here: https://thrivebeyondcancer.org   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Please enjoy this re-release of my conversation with Audrey (original episode #27)! Audrey and I discuss: The shocking death of her friend in college, after just cracking open the glorious beginning of their friendship How hard it is to not have anyone to grieve the loss with The fear of complicating the family members’ grief Feeling gaslit by the world And more!     TRIGGER WARNING: The topic of suicide comes up in this conversation. So please take care of yourself, and if you or someone you know is experiencing a suicide crisis or mental health-related distress, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 988.   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

As I'm traveling and visiting friends and family, please enjoy this re-release of my interview with Jaymie, "The Tapestry of Female Friendships" (originally episode 15). On today’s episode, my friend Jaymie and I discuss: What the term “best friend” means to us The idea of friendships being a tapestry throughout our life Grieving the ends of friendships and the seasons of life How the world often tells us our love and our emotions is “too” much How to support your friends when they go through dark times Our happiest memories with our friends     Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with artistic director of Green Shirt (and acting/storytelling teacher extraordinaire) Jack Schultz! (If you want to catch part 1, check out episode 46).   Today, Jack and I talk about: Using psychedelics to process grief How he has had trouble finding groups and resources for sibling loss, and I have struggled finding resources for friend loss How disconnected our Western society is Using storytelling to rewrite unhelpful or unhealthy stories that are hardwired within us And more!   About today’s guest Jack Schultz: Jack is an actor, teacher, and storyteller in Chicago. He’s the Artistic Director of Green Shirt Studio and former Artistic Director of The Agency where his solo show I’m Falling In Love All The Time enjoyed a sold out run on Chicago’s off-loop theatre scene. A story exploring opioid addiction through the lens of caffeine and romantic relationships, I’m Falling In Love All The Time now travels to colleges around the country to tackle stigma around substance use disorders. To find out more about Jack visit jackgschultz.com.   Resources: Check out Green Shirt Studio in Chicago, which has acting and storytelling classes: https://www.greenshirtstudio.com/   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to Jack Schultz, who has been my acting and storytelling teacher in Chicago through Green Shirt Studio, and helped me to write and create my first-ever one-person show “42 Days of Summer” in 2020. That one-person show helped me to process, navigate, and share my grief after the death of my friend. Today, we talk about storytelling, and how it has helped us to map our grief over the years. Today, Jack and I discuss: Jack’s play “I’m Falling In Love All The Time” and how it helped him process his grief after his brother’s death How storytelling helps us to see how our life (and grief) has changed over time The need for connection and community after loss (and how storytelling has helped us find that!) And more!   About today’s guest Jack Schultz: Jack is an actor, teacher, and storyteller in Chicago. He’s the Artistic Director of Green Shirt Studio and former Artistic Director of The Agency where his solo show I’m Falling In Love All The Time enjoyed a sold out run on Chicago’s off-loop theatre scene. A story exploring opioid addiction through the lens of caffeine and romantic relationships, I’m Falling In Love All The Time now travels to colleges around the country to tackle stigma around substance use disorders. To learn more, visit jackgschultz.com Resources: Check out Green Shirt Studio in Chicago, which offers phenomenal acting and storytelling classes, and is a loving and inclusive artistic community: https://www.greenshirtstudio.com/   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Suzanne Longstreet! (If you want to catch part 1, check out episode 44). Today, my friend Suzanne and I discuss: Forgiving friends versus pulling away How we protect ourselves after loss How often people dismiss friend-grief Not every friend is going to fulfill everything (and how friends respond to different facets of us) “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” ― Anaïs Nin   About today's guest, Suzanne Longstreet: Suzanne Longstreet coaches high performance mindset shifts that transform six figure entrepreneur’s mindset so that they can release their inner bad ass. To learn more about Suzanne: https://www.successandclarity.com     Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today, my friend Suzanne and I discuss: The question “Did I do enough?” after a friend passes away How important it is to celebrate friendship and keep your heart open after loss The holographic heart (our heart-mind), and how we can love multiple people with our whole heart. Creativity after loss About today's guest Suzanne Longstreet: Suzanne Longstreet coaches high performance mindset shifts that transform six figure entrepreneur’s mindset so that they can release their inner bad ass. To learn more about Suzanne: https://www.successandclarity.com    Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Ian Ornstein! (If you want to catch part 1, check out episode 42). About Ian: Ian grew up in California and moved to Chicago in 2015. He writes (plays, short stories, essays, monologues) and performs (improv in various forms) around town. Right now he's thinking about trying to move through life with less judgement and being open to the various varieties that life presents him. To join Ian’s quarterly email list (where he shares his creative projects and more) go here: https://mailchi.mp/f07a754c2dc2/ianornsteinquarterlysignup Today, Ian and I discuss: The difference between writing about a family member’s death versus a friend’s Book recommendations that include grieving a friend (Perks of Being a Wallflower and In the Pockets of Small Gods) How to be considerate but ALSO understand how we are not responsible for everyone’s feelings! Considering people’s privacy and feelings when writing about our grief (in his play and my memoir) The last moments we remember about our friends who passed   Resources: To check out the books Ian recommended: Perks of Being a Wallflower: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower In the Pockets of Small Gods: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36478918-in-the-pockets-of-small-gods   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

About today’s guest, Ian Ornstein: Ian grew up in California and moved to Chicago in 2015. He writes (plays, short stories, essays, monologues) and performs (improv in various forms) around town. Right now he's thinking about trying to move through life with less judgement and being open to the various varieties that life presents him. To join Ian’s quarterly email list (where he shares his creative projects and more) go here: https://mailchi.mp/f07a754c2dc2/ianornsteinquarterlysignup Today, Ian and I discuss: The inspiration behind Ian’s play “The Virgin Death” The impossibility of fully honoring someone’s life How we do NOT believe everything happens for a reason (instead, something horrible happens and then we pick up the scraps, hoping to make something beautiful from it) My struggles with writing a memoir And so much more! Tune in next week for Part 2 of our conversation! Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Enjoy Part 2 of Jaymie interviewing me! Today, Jaymie and I discuss: What I would say to my 23-year-old freshly grieving self Identifying what we need and asking for help (which can be so hard!) Being in that dark dark place, when it doesn't feel like it'll ever get better And much much more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I thought it’d be fun to flip the script and have my good friend Jaymie (from episode 15 and 16) interview me! Jaymie and I discuss: Why I created the podcast My grief journey (including how I’ve invalidated and gaslit my own grief!) The complexities of friend-grief and what I’ve learned What to say (and not to say) to people who are grieving The MYTH of the 5 stages of grief And much much more!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Season 2 of Friends Missing Friends begins 9/5/23! Make sure you follow/subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so that you can continue to get updated whenever I release an episode. I appreciate you!! Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Enjoy this compilation episode, where I share snippets of my favorite moments from Season 1. I truly loved talking to each person, and learned so much about myself and about grief. Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Today I talk to co-producer Sydney Bauer about forgiveness in the phenomenal film Women Talking (directed by Sarah Polley, based on the book by Miriam Toews). To find out more about the film, go here: https://www.mgmstudios.com/women-talking/ To find out more about the book, go here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/women-talking-9781635574340/ Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated!  You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

Enjoy this bonus episode of cut material – or “deleted scenes” as I like to call them – from today’s interview with Mark!   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated! You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.

About today’s guest, Mark Anthony Lord: Mark is a versatile and accomplished spiritual leader who has made a significant impact in both the arts and spirituality. His illustrious career began as a professional choreographer and director, including a notable three-year tenure at Disney, and he has since honed his spiritual acumen through studying with some of the most revered spiritual teachers, such as Michael Beckwith, Marianne Williamson, Gay & Katie Hendricks, and Byron Katie. Mark’s passion for spiritual awakening led him to ordination as a Minister, and he has gone on to found two successful spiritual communities. The Bodhi Spiritual Center in Chicago, which grew from a handful of members to thousands under his leadership, and Living The Course, a virtual, global ACIM community that he transformed into a 7-figure business in under three years. To learn more about Mark, go here: https://markanthonylord.me/about/   Today, Mark and I discuss: What forgiveness is How to reach forgiveness How forgiveness relates to grief How it can free you from judgment, anger, and pain   Get in touch: Thank you for listening to Friends Missing Friends. If you enjoyed it, please follow/subscribe, leave stars and a review – it’s so appreciated! You can send in your questions to [email protected], send a voice clip to our google voice number 312-291-1781, and follow us on IG @friendsmissingfriends. For more information, you can visit our website: friendsmissingfriends.com.