Episodes
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Behind every war hero lies an untold story of pain and resilience—join Becky Ellis as she breaks decades of silence in her unforgettable memoir.
In this episode, I'm joined by the author Becky Ellis who talks about her memoir, Little Avalanches. A daughter of a highly decorated combat veteran, Becky refers to herself as a “veteran of the war fought at home.” Her work highlights the often-overlooked impact of war trauma on veterans’ families, capturing the silent struggles and resilience required to navigate life alongside a loved one carrying deep, unspoken scars.
Throughout this episode, Becky describes her book Little Avalanches as a deeply personal account of living with a war-scarred father who carried a lifetime of unspoken trauma. She shares her journey of breaking through his silence to reveal his harrowing experiences and how, at the end of his life, open conversations helped them both heal. Her father, who never spoke about his past, finally relayed memories with fresh intensity and pain, showing the persistent psychological scars of war. Becky also provides practical advice on having empathetic conversations with veterans, emphasizing a personal approach and understanding the complexities of their experiences. Her unique perspective and advocacy offer a voice to families touched by trauma and a bridge to understanding for those seeking to connect more deeply with the experiences of veterans.
Tune in and listen to episode 282 of Grief and Happiness to explore the hidden impact of war trauma on families and discover how compassionate conversations can open pathways to healing and understanding.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The legacy of war trauma on families (1:58)Breaking through silence and the power of healing conversations (4:11)Understanding war and childhood trauma: A personal and emotional account (6:26)Connecting with veterans: Tips for a meaningful conversations (17:18)Encouragement to Confront Painful Histories and Cultivate Compassion (23:39)Connect with Becky Ellis:
WebsiteInstagramGet Becky Ellis’ book!Let's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What are your memories of celebrating the lives of your loved ones? How would you like to be remembered?
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes manquant?
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Could the lessons from a rescue dog transform how we handle grief and gratitude?
In this episode, I'm joined by the Author, Speaker, and Consultant Leslie Yerkes. Leslie is a best-selling business book author with six books translated into dozens of languages and worldwide sales. In recent years her journey of rescuing and caring for dogs led her to write children's books that address themes of love, commitment, and grief.
Throughout this episode, Leslie recounts her story of rescuing a South African Mastiff, how the dog transformed her life, and the grief she faced when she lost both her dog and her mother in a short span of time. She speaks about how these experiences inspired her to write books aimed at helping children and families understand loss, especially the loss of pets. Leslie advocates for using stories to teach children about grief, love, and the importance of keeping promises. Her message highlights the power of animals as healers and companions, the importance of staying open to love even in the face of loss, and the role of grief as a natural and essential part of life.
Tune in and listen to episode 280 of Grief and Happiness, and discover Leslie Yerkes’ deeply personal experiences with grief, love, and healing through her relationships with animals.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
From business to children's books (1:10)A dog rescue that changed everything (2:37)Finding peace after loss (7:36)Navigating grief through writing (12:04)Lessons from animals on grief and love (15:02)Revisit the love that the sorrow reflects (19:01)Advocating for rescue (23:27)Connect with Leslie Yerkes:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookGet Leslie’s books!Let's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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You never know when your last conversation will be with a loved one, so be sure in each conversation you have to make it filled with love.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What if grief was more than just sadness—what if it was a spectrum of emotions as rich and varied as a 152-color crayon box?
In this episode, I'm joined by the Poet, Biographer, and Memoirist Molly Peacock. Molly shares her experiences of how her husband’s long illness and widowhood have informed her work, particularly in her new book The Widow’s Crayon Box. After her husband’s death, she realized she was not living the received idea of a widow’s mauve existence but instead was experiencing life with all 152 colors of the crayon box.
Throughout this episode, Molly Peacock reflects on the societal expectations of grief being limited to a few emotions like sadness, but for her, it has been a complex and lively process. She highlights the transformative aspect of grief, where the mourner is not just in a state of loss but also in a state of personal evolution and rediscovering parts of themselves. She also reads a short excerpt from her poetry, illustrating how emotions in grief can be contradictory yet colorful. Finally, Molly touches on the importance of storytelling in the grieving process, both for processing one’s own emotions and for connecting with others who share similar experiences.
Tune in and listen to episode 278 of Grief and Happiness, and learn how Molly challenges the conventional view of grief, showing how it can lead to a deeper understanding of life, self, and the richness of human emotions.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Introduction to Molly and the metaphor of using a 152-color crayon box to represent the emotions of grief (01:19)Finding vibrancy in loss (05:42)The grieving person’s transformation and the reclamation of the self (10:12)The structure and content of "The Widow's Crayon Box" (20:06)The importance of storytelling and listening to the grief journeys of others (27:35)Connect with Molly Peacock:
WebsiteInstagramFacebookGet Molly Peacock’s Poetry on Amazon!Molly featured on CBC’s The Current in a documentary, What Can A Widow Be?Let's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How you can help.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Grief does not only mean that someone has passed but it is also the loss of the path you thought you were going to take and the person you used to be but can not be anymore.
In this episode, I’m joined by the Writer, Author, and Freelance Journalist, Julie Fingersh. Julie found her way back to writing once her career as a stay-at-home mother of two ended. In her braided memoir, “Stay”, she weaves together three family stories in which the clear common thread is the presence of grief. The book is an exploration of the complexity of family, love, and the impact family secrets have on generations.
Throughout this episode, you will hear about how grief can stay hidden when mental illness or addiction is involved and what effects keeping secrets has on the well-being of the griever and the family. Julie also talks about the grief associated with letting go of kids for them to live their own lives and losing the job of a stay-at-home parent.
Plus, Julie discusses the balance between grief and happiness by sharing her journey of finding joy despite all the losses she endured.
Tune in and listen to episode 276 of Grief and Happiness, and explore types of grief beyond the obvious loss and how to find healing and support.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
What is Julie’s book about (4:33)Hidden grief when it involves mental illness and addiction (9:13)The grief of going from stage to stage in life (12:17)How grief is present in parenting (16:38)Finding healing and happiness in grief (22:13)How laughter and despair go hand in hand (26:50)Connect with Julie Fingersh:
WebsiteInstagramFacebookLinkedInGet Julie's book!Let's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Be sure to share your treasured life stories with the family and friends you know would love to have them.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What does mourning and grieving look like if it is not the type of loss we can grieve independent of our physicality and is intimately tied to our bodies?
In today’s episode, I'm joined by a certified DONA International Postpartum Doula and Grief Educator Eileen Santos Rosete. Experiencing pregnancy loss twice during her motherhood journey, Eileen is helping women feel seen, held, and honored. As part of her work, she authored the book, To Tend and To Hold, dedicated to women who went through perinatal loss. The book was born to support them in acknowledging the pregnancy and the end of it while undergoing postpartum without a living child.
Throughout this episode, the importance of doulas, the need for cultural guidelines and resources supporting those who experience infant loss will be highlighted. You will learn about the added layer of bodily connection when it comes to perinatal loss. Eileen also talks about how others can hold space for this tender intersection of postpartum care, grief, and trauma.
Plus, Eileen shares a personal story to emphasize that in the world of grief and grief literature the stance around darkness should be softened as there can be tremendous potential in it.
Tune in and listen to episode 274 of Grief and Happiness, and learn to give the reverence to Womb Loss that it deserves as it happens within us and to us.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Doulas are having a moment (02:16)The uniqueness of pregnancy and infant loss (09:47)Caring for those who experience postpartum without a living child (14:07)Introducing the term Womb Loss (19:26)Softening the language around loss (23:26)Connect with Eileen Santos Rosete:
WebsiteGet Eileen's book!InstagramLet's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Writing letters to my loved ones in my journal helps me to feel close to them.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Is it possible to talk about grief, honor our loved ones, and move forward with our grief without living in sorrow and despair?
In today's special episode, I'm joined by the Author, Actor, Transformational Coach, and Grief Expert, James LaVeck. The loss of James' second husband changed not only the way he felt and perceived the loss of his first husband but also his whole perspective on grief and how people deal with loss. He authored three books on grief, and developed tools to help grievers deal with their sorrow and find the right community for them, among many other valuable resources, which can be found in his third book, "Grief Recovery for Adults."
Throughout this episode, you'll hear about James' grief journey, how losing his second husband changed his perspective on grief, and why he feels the second loss put the first one in perspective, and helped him realize the first loss prepared him for the second one. James also shares his thoughts on "the right time" to start dating again after losing a loved one, and the resources he used to feel alive again when he felt half of him was gone after the loss of his first husband.
Plus, James talks about finding gratitude and purpose in grief, the importance of finding new passions and aiming for growth, and much more.
Tune in and listen to episode 272 and learn more about James LaVeck's unique and appealing way of looking at and dealing with grief.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Dealing with loss and moving forward (2:30)
The benefits of finding gratitude and purpose in grief (6:20)
Is there a "right time" to start dating again after losing your other half? (8:10)
The healing power of sharing stories and connecting with a supportive community (17:20)
Finding new passions and purpose in grief (19:40)
James talks about some of the resources he shares in his third book, "Grief Recovery for Adults" (23:30)
Connect with James LaVeck:
Website
Get James' books!
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YouTube
TikTok
Twitter
IMDb
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Let's Connect:
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
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The Grief and Happiness Alliance
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Do you know what your purpose is right now? Listen to this to discover how to find or refine your purpose.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking hereYou can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Losing the person who was the center pole of your tent will cause your tent to fall, regardless of whether or not you are a grief specialist. Being a grief specialist doesn't mean you are immune to grief; it means you are better equipped to go through it.
In this episode, I'm joined by the Podcast Host, TEDx Speaker, and trauma-trained Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis. As a grief specialist, Meghan focused her 20+ years of experience on understanding grief's multiple layers and finding new ways of supporting grievers. She authored two books about grief, "The End of the Hour," and "Can Anyone Tell Me?" hosts the popular blog and Podcast "Grief Is My Side Hustle," and offers a free writing workshop, "Grief Mates."
Throughout this episode, Meghan shares her experiences of feeling lost while navigating grief as a grief specialist and the unexpected loss of her primary attachment that "took her tent down." Meghan also highlights the alarming lack of grief training for clinicians and doctors and accessible support for grievers, explains her six-component framework, the Grief Mentor Method, and much more.
Tune in and listen to episode 270 of Grief and Happiness, and learn more about grief's complexities, the effects of losing primary attachments, and the unique challenges grief specialists face.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About Meghan's traumatic encounter with grief (2:00)Meghan talks about her latest book's purpose (4:30)Meghan and Emily discuss grief's different experiences (7:40)The Grief Mentor Method (14:30)About the lack of grief training for clinicians and doctors (24:00)Connect with Meghan Riordan Jarvis:
WebsiteInstagramFacebookMediumGet Meghan's books!Let's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The sounds and vibrations from a myriad of instruments as well as human voice can come together for a beautiful self-care experience.
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Each grief experience is unique. Mourning the same person will take people on different ruts and even make them go on opposite paths. We all feel, process, and deal with pain in a particular way, and it is in that plurality that hundreds of healing techniques are born.
In this episode, I'm joined by the Author, Speaker, Healer, and TV Host, Brenda L. Balding. Brenda's relationship with grief was always one of curiosity about how we heal from it, with emphasis on positive and reflective ways. Her background as a Registered Nurse adds a compelling yet little-discussed topic to the mix: the grief of the body parts we lose in surgeries.
Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Brenda's unique approach to grief recovery, blending medical knowledge and creative, spiritual practices. Brenda also talks about the importance of addressing grief head-on, why relying on creative and artistic expressions to deal with bereavement is always a good idea, how to take care of spiritual and emotional energy during grief, and much more.
Tune in and listen to episode 268 of Grief and Happiness, and discover how artistic expressions can help you balance feeling joy while still honoring your grief.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Brenda talks about the grief of missing body parts (2:50)About the emotional impact of medical procedures (4:30)How writing letters to those we mourn can help (7:10)Is it possible to use physical triggers for joy? (12:10)Brenda and Emily discuss happiness practices (13:20)Connect with Brenda L. Balding:
WebsiteLinkedinFacebookGet Brenda's booksWatch Brenda on I Have Today with Diane FosterLet's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What do you have or do now that helps you to feel better?
Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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There are aspects of grief most people resist normalizing, like accepting it is not a linear path, and that can make us lash out at others in anger.
In this episode, I'm joined by the Clinical Social Worker and Author Claire Willis. Claire has over 30 years of experience both as a volunteer and a social worker in hospice care and also leads bereavement, end-of-life support, and therapeutic writing groups.
It was leading these groups she realized many of the attendants had this wrong idea that dealing with grief is a linear path, which motivated her to write her two books, "Opening To Grief" and "Lasting Words."
Throughout this episode, Claire sheds light on little-known aspects of grief, like the anger it can provoke, and invites us to normalize its various expressions. You'll also hear about why she believes grievers are not alone as long as they can ways to express themselves, what is a Sudden Temporary Upsurge of Grief, and why you shouldn't worry if you experience one.
Plus, Claire talks about ambiguous loss, primary and secondary loss, shares practical resources for holding grief, and much more.
Tune in and listen to episode 266 of Grief and Happiness, and take a step further in understanding the multiple expressions of grief and how to better deal with them.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
There is no linear path in grief (1:30)Being angry and lashing out might become part of a grieving process (4:50)Grief and its cultural blockages (9:30)How to deal with ambiguous loss (11:40)Sudden Temporary Upsurge of grief (16:20)Claire shares actionable tips for holding grief (19:50)Connect with Claire Willis:
WebsiteInstagramFacebookBook: Claire Willis - Opening to Grief: Finding Your Way from Loss to PeaceBook: Claire Willis - Lasting Words: A Guide to Finding Meaning Toward the Close of LifeLet's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Is it possible to express the pain of losing a soulmate through words?
In this episode, I'm joined by the Family Law Attorney and Writer Michael Sudman. Michael started writing health updates to family and friends when his soulmate, Sheryl, got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After Sheryl passed, Michael kept writing, yet he transformed those health updates into beautifully written poetry and (thankfully!) decided to keep sharing them. Using his incredible talent to resignify everyday observations into deep messages about life, love, grief, and healing, Michael shares his art with 240 people each day, and, through his spontaneous and heartfelt words, inspires others to find beauty, hope, and connection even in the darkest times.
Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Michael's unique approach to coping with grief through daily writing and how he found solace, connection, and healing through his art. You'll also hear three beautiful poems written by Michael about optimism, life's unpredictability, and simplicity that represent perfectly how art, writing, and poetry are ideal tools for resignifying grief and much more.
Tune in and listen to episode 264 of Grief and Happiness, and enjoy Michael's incredible talent to transform unique perspectives and ideas into a beautiful art form.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
About how Michael's "Today's Thought" started (2:50)Three is golden in them (4:20)Michael's poem about life's unpredictability (6:00)Hopeful, happy, praying, peaceful, summer nights... (14:40)Michael talks about what writing these poems does for him (17:50)Connect with Michael Sudman:
LinkedInBook: Michael Sudman - A 62-Day Journey: Love, Light, and GraceLet's Connect:
WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through GriefHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Let's Connect:
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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