Life With Grief Podcast | Grief Support Podcast

Drop me a message or voice note!

I'm sitting down with Grief Educator Heidi Dunstan, who lost her husband Mike unexpectedly to a heart attack in 2018—the day before her 40th birthday, after she performed CPR trying to save him. We talk about what early grief actually feels like (numbness, brain fog, trauma) and what it took to feel steady again.

In this episode, we cover:
✨ Why the first 3-4 months are often the hardest, and what shifted for Heidi around the 18-month mark
✨ The brain fog of grief, and why it's a real...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If you're past the early, gut-punch stage of grief but nowhere near "healed", you might be living in what I call the messy middle. And it's one of the most disorienting, confusing, and misunderstood seasons of the entire grief journey.

Let's talk about that in-between season where the shock has worn off, you're functioning, you're showing up, but something still feels off and you're not quite sure who you are anymore. It's confusing, it's uncomfortable, and not enough people are talking about it.

I'm getting real...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If you're past the early, gut-punch stage of grief but nowhere near "healed", you might be living in what I call the messy middle. And it's one of the most disorienting, confusing, and misunderstood seasons of the entire grief journey.

Let's talk about that in-between season where the shock has worn off, you're functioning, you're showing up, but something still feels off and you're not quite sure who you are anymore. It's confusing, it's uncomfortable, and not enough people are talking about it.

I'm getting real...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Losing a dad changes everything, and no one talks about the full picture of what that actually looks like. In this special episode in honor of Father's Dat, I'm joined by two incredible women who get it: Liz Quinn, host of the Healing Hearts podcast, and Nicci Scimone, certified grief coach. Together, we open up about losing our dads, the ripple effects that followed, and what it really means to rebuild your life after father loss—especially when you're also navigating motherhood.

Liz lost her dad Edward to st...

Drop me a message or voice note!

What happens when the person who holds space for the dying suddenly becomes the one who needs to be held?

I sat down with J.S. Park, hospital chaplain of 11 years at a Level 1 trauma center, for one of the most profound conversations I've ever had on this podcast. 

And before we even hit record, life had already handed us a plot twist: our original recording date had to be pushed because J.S.'s own mother was struck by a drunk driver and became a t...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you ever grieved someone who's still alive? Or lost yourself so completely inside a relationship that when it ended, you didn't even know who you were anymore?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with the incredible Jess Prudhomme—podcaster and host of The Great Detour—to talk about one of the most misunderstood forms of grief out there: divorce grief and identity loss.

Jess married her high school sweetheart at 17. By 35, her marriage was over—and so was the version of herself she'd built around it. Wh...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you ever woken up and panicked because you couldn't quite remember the sound of your loved one's voice, or the exact way they laughed? That quiet, creeping fear of forgetting is one of the most common and least talked-about experiences in grief. 

And if you've felt it, you are so not alone... and you are absolutely not failing them. Six years out from losing both of my parents I'm still navigating this fear myself, and today I'm sitting with you in it, breaking down why it happens, w...

Drop me a message or voice note!

What happens when grief keeps finding you in different forms, at different stages of life? In this episode, I'm joined by Robin Ducharme, author and founder of Real Love Ready, for a truly honest and vulnerable conversation.

Robin shares the story of losing her twin brother Reese suddenly to a heart attack in 2012, and the profound, beautiful experience she had with his spirit that same night. 

She also opens up about losing her father just weeks after closing Reese's estate (after serving as executor twice in t...

Drop me a message or voice note!

What happens when the grief you're carrying is the kind most people don't know how to talk about? Toni Filipone knows, and she's here to walk you through it.

I'm sitting down with Toni Filipone, an international, multi-certified grief expert, author, speaker, and the founder of MasterGrief, a global platform helping people heal after loss all over the world. With over 30 years of experience in personal development alongside leaders like Tony Robbins, Toni has dedicated her life to helping people understand grief, master their emotions, and rebuild a...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode, I'm diving into one of my favorite topics—grieving styles—and why understanding yours can be such a powerful part of your healing journey. Because here's what I want you to know before we even get started: there is no right way to grieve. There is only your way.

I'm pulling from real research here, specifically the work of psychologists Terry Martin and Kenneth Doka, who identified a spectrum of grieving styles that explains so much about why we all move through loss so differently.
...

Drop me a message or voice note!

When grief becomes the very thing that leads you to help others heal, that's when loss truly starts to become a gain.

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Erin Blechman—mom, certified grief educator, and suicide loss survivor—for a conversation that is raw, real, and so deeply needed. Erin shares the story of her son Max, a wildly creative, deeply sensitive, and brilliantly funny young man who lived with medication-resistant depression and epilepsy, and who she lost to suicide in June 2020, right in the thick of COVI...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Mother's Day can be one of the most painful days of the year when you're missing your mom. And if you're dreading it, this episode is for you.

In this special panel episode of the Life With Grief Podcast, I'm joined by three incredible women—Liz Quinn, Sara Rian, and Chelsea Ohlemiller—for an honest, heartfelt conversation about what it's really like to grieve your mother, navigate Mother's Day without her, and find your way forward without losing the love you carry for her.

Each of us s...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you ever found yourself doing all the things, showing up, checking the boxes, keeping the pace, but quietly wondering if something needs to give? If you've been feeling that pull to pause, pivot, or finally make room for the thing that's been calling to you... this episode is for you.

This week, I'm getting really real with you. I'm sharing a personal update about Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts—and more importantly, the why behind it. Because the honest truth is, this decision didn't come from nowhere. 

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you ever felt like loss cracked something open in you, like it changed not just your heart, but the way you see the world? You're not imagining it.

I'm sitting down with Jessica Rachel, spiritual medium and intuitive coach, to talk about exactly that. Because here's what I'm learning more and more: grief has a way of awakening us. And your intuition? It's been there all along, just waiting for you to tune in.

In this episode, Jessica and I dig into:
✨ Why loss so...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you been forgetting things more than usual since your loss? Walking into rooms and blanking. Missing appointments. Re-reading the same sentence five times. Feeling like your brain just isn't working the way it used to?

You're not irresponsible. You're not "losing it." You're experiencing something called grief brain, and it's more common than anyone talks about.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what's actually happening inside your brain when you're grieving, why the fog and forgetfulness make complete sense, and how to gently support yourself...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief doesn't always look like loss of a person. Sometimes, it looks like losing a dream. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Clay Brigance, an Infertility Counseling Expert, professional counselor, researcher, and host of the Love and Infertility podcast, for one of the most powerful conversations I've had on this show. 

We're talking about infertility and pregnancy loss as a grief experience. The kind that so often goes unnamed, unseen, and completely unsupported.

Dr. Clay brings both the clinical expertise and the deeply personal e...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you ever wished someone would just tell you the truth about what it's like to lose a parent, and what to actually do while they're still here?

That's exactly what this Ask Tara episode is. I'm answering two questions from a listener who has already lost one parent and is now watching the other navigate a serious illness. These are the questions I wish I had been asked when I was in the thick of it... and the answers I wish someone had given me.

...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If you've ever watched someone you love slowly slip away—or wondered if your grief response was "normal"—this one's for you.

I'm sitting down with Grief Coach Nicole Scimone, who lost her father Donny at just 24 years old after a nearly decade-long battle with leukemia. 

But this isn't just a story about loss. It's about the messy, non-linear, deeply human journey of learning to carry grief... and still choose joy.

In this episode, we talk about:
✨ Watching her dad Donny fight leukemia for nin...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you tried returning to something you used to love after loss, and felt absolutely nothing? Maybe it's the hobby you looked forward to every week. The music that used to move you. The routine that once made you feel like yourself. And now it feels flat, heavy, or just... different.

If that's been your experience, this episode is for you. In this Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts conversation, I'm diving into one of the most quietly disorienting parts of grief: losing your sense of joy, passion, and identity...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Some losses are so profound they don't fit inside any framework we have for grief. Collin Farias's story is one of those, and his willingness to share it with the world is an act of extraordinary love.

In May 2024, Collin's wife Camry was diagnosed with colon cancer that quickly progressed to stage four. Choosing a holistic path instead of chemotherapy, Camry was navigating her illness while also navigating a pregnancy—holding two enormous, beautiful, terrifying things at once. At 23 weeks, her water broke. On July 3rd, their son Ch...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If you've ever watched a family member or close friend seem to "bounce back" from a loss while you're still deep in the thick of grief—and also wondered, "what is wrong with me?"—this episode is for you.

Spoiler: nothing is wrong with you. And I want you to feel that not just in your head, but in your bones.

In this episode, I'm digging into one of the most painful and misunderstood experiences in grief: feeling like you're falling behind while everyone around you seem...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief doesn't always come just once, and for some of us, it comes in waves that feel impossible to survive. In this episode, I sit down with grief advocate and host of The Healing Hearts Podcast Liz Quinn, who has walked through some of the most profound losses a person can experience: the death of her firstborn daughter, and both of her parents.

Liz's story is one of raw honesty, deep love, and the kind of grace that only comes from truly living with grief. Whether you're navigating...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If you’ve been craving a shift in your grief but don’t know where to start, this episode is for you.

In today’s Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts minisode, I’m giving you a free, behind-the-scenes look at Day 1 of my Micro Moments for Transformation program—a 30-day experience designed to help you move through grief in a way that feels supportive, doable, and actually sustainable.

Because here’s the truth: transformation doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly. It comes from small, intentional moments that meet you...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Ben Forman to talk about a kind of grief that often goes unseen—losing a sibling, and what it means to navigate life as the “forgotten griever.”

Ben shares the story of losing his younger brother, Sam, in a sudden skiing accident at just 25 years old, and how that loss reshaped his identity, his family, and the way he moves through the world.

We talk about the quiet complexities of sibling grief, the guilt and dark thought patterns t...

Drop me a message or voice note!

If your grief has been feeling especially heavy lately, I wanted to give you something real to hold onto this week.

In today’s episode of Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts on Life With Grief, I’m sharing Day 1 of my 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Experience—completely free—so you can gently step into what it feels like to be supported, grounded, and guided through your grief in a more intentional way.

This isn’t about fixing your grief or rushing your healing. It’s about creating sma...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode of Life With Grief, I’m joined by Psychologist, bestselling author, and globally recognized speaker Dr. Jody Carrington for an honest, raw (and funny!) conversation about grief, loneliness, and the healing power of community. 

Dr. Jody sheds light on a powerful distinction between grief and mourning—two experiences that often get lumped together but play very different roles in our healing. 

She shares several deeply personal losses that have shaped her own understanding of grief, including the death of her best friend, the recent...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Watching someone you love go through cancer is one of the most painful and powerless experiences a person can face. You want to take their pain away, you want to fix it, but cancer is one of those moments in life where love doesn’t give you control... and that helplessness can feel overwhelming.

In this special episode of Life With Grief, I’m participating in Podcasthon, a global initiative where thousands of podcasts dedicate one episode to highlighting a charity that matters to them.

For this...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this milestone episode of Life With Grief, I’m reflecting on what 200 conversations about grief and loss have truly taught me about healing, identity, resilience, purpose, and what it really means to live a full life after loss.

When I recorded episode one, I thought I understood grief because I had lived it. What I didn’t know was how much listening to hundreds of stories—from widows, grieving parents, adult children, partners, and survivors of complicated loss—would deepen, stretch, and transform that understanding.

In this...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief is often met with the same advice: practice self-care. Take a bath. Go for a walk. Journal. Rest. And while those things can support your nervous system, they don’t always touch the deeper layers of loss.

In this episode of Life With Grief, let's explore the powerful difference between self-care and soul-care—especially in the context of grief, identity shifts, and life after loss. Because grief isn’t just stress, it’s a transformation. And that requires something deeper than surface-level coping tools.

Let's dig into...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Have you been struggling to focus since your loss? Perhaps you find yourself reading the same paragraph over and over, forgetting simple words, or feeling mentally slower than you used to. Maybe you're wondering, “What is wrong with me?”

In this episode, we’re talking about the fog of grief. The very real cognitive and neurological effects of loss that can make concentration feel nearly impossible.

Grief affects your nervous system, your memory, your decision-making, and your ability to think clearly. When someone you love dies, your b...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode of Life With Grief, Barri Leiner Grant shares her experience of losing her mother suddenly to a brain aneurysm at age 27, and what it meant to grieve at a time when grief was rarely spoken about. 

She opens up about becoming a motherless mother, seeking therapy during pregnancy, and learning how to carry loss without silencing it.

We explore spiritual and intuitive healing, including working with a shaman and medium, and how those experiences led her to create The Memory Circle, a space c...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode of Life With Grief, let's dig into the quiet desire many grievers feel after loss: the pull to completely reinvent themselves.

When someone we love dies, it doesn’t just change our circumstances... it changes our identity. Our priorities shift, our tolerance lowers, and what once felt meaningful may no longer fit. And wanting something new can bring guilt, confusion, and even pushback from others.

Let's explore why reinvention after grief is a deeply human response to loss, not a betrayal. I talk ab...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode of Life With Grief, I sit down with Nina Rodriguez to talk about sibling grief after the sudden death of her only brother, Yosef, who died from fentanyl poisoning on September 11, 2019—just one day after his 32nd birthday.

Nina shares what it means to grieve as a sibling, why bereaved siblings are often the “forgotten mourners,” and how the loss of a brother or sister can deeply impact identity, birth order, and family dynamics.

Together, we explore the complex layers of grief after addict...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief and life transitions often bring emotions that feel confusing, complicated, and sometimes even contradictory. One of the most common experiences people face after loss is feeling genuinely happy for someone they love, while simultaneously feeling sadness, longing, or grief for themselves. Can you relate to this?

If you’ve ever celebrated someone else’s milestone while quietly mourning what feels missing in your own life, you are not alone.

Let's talk about:
✨ Why it’s normal to feel happy for others while feeling sad for your...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this episode of Life With Grief I sit down with Dr. Heather Taylor, a Licensed Psychologist and Grief Educator, for an honest and deeply human conversation about grief, sibling loss, and living with chronic illness.

Dr. Heather shares her personal story of losing her younger brother and navigating the often-overlooked experience of sibling grief. She opens up about her own struggles to find effective grief therapy, and how those gaps ultimately led her to pursue a career in psychology so she could offer the kind of grief-informed...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief doesn’t just change how you feel, it often changes your relationships, too. After losing someone you love (or after any loss, really), friendships, family dynamics, and romantic relationships can start to shift. You may feel misunderstood, unsupported, or emotionally unsafe sharing your grief. And for many grievers, this can feel like a secondary loss layered on top of the first.

Join me in talking about the very real experience of outgrowing relationships after loss, why it happens, and how to navigate the complicated emotions that can co...

Drop me a message or voice note!

Grief doesn’t just break your heart, it literally changes who you are.

In this heartfelt 5-Minute Grief Talk (in honor of my 35th birthday!), I’m sharing a truth that so many grievers quietly wrestle with: the way loss reshapes your identity. The moment you realize you don’t feel like the same person anymore. The disorientation of trying to understand who you are now after everything you’ve lost.

We talk about:
❤️‍🩹 How grief changes your sense of self
❤️‍🩹Why wanting to “go back” is so common (and s...

Drop me a message or voice note!

In this birthday episode of Life With Grief, I’m sharing five life lessons I’m still actively practicing as I turn 35! Lessons grief, age, motherhood, and lived experience have etched into me over time. These are things rooted in identity shifts, discernment, presence, and learning how to live a full life while carrying loss.

I’ve realized that I’ve gone through many deaths and rebirths in my life—once when my parents died, again when I became a mother, and in quieter ways as I continue to evolve...