The Power of Love Show

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we are thrilled to have two extraordinary guests, Dr. Mekel Harris (returning guest!) and Janet Gwilliam-Wright, joining us to share their insights on mental health, grief and their groundbreaking work with Bloomwell Partners, LLC. Dr. Mekel Harris received a B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University, M.A. in Psychology from Houston Baptist University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical/School Psychology from University of Houston. Further, she completed her pre-doctoral internship and two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Since then, Dr. Harris has served in higher education, along with community- and hospital-based mental health programs. She currently works in private practice as a licensed psychologist and CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC, offering mental health support across the lifespan. Dr. Harris also provides training, education, and consultation to organizations around the globe, focused on an array of mental health themes. Finally, she is co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, a consulting firm that equips corporate entities with the skills necessary to afford grief-informed leadership and care within the workplace.   Throughout the past decade, Dr. Harris has presented at >30 domestic and international conferences and has been interviewed on several podcasts, with topics ranging from grief and loss to community mental health and trauma. In June 2016, she authored a memoir, Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief & Beyond. Throughout the past two years, Dr. Harris has created The Grief Anatomy Toolkit – an e-book and mini-course, an 8-week immersive online course, Re-Imagining Life After Loss, Mindful Grieving, a therapeutic curriculum for coping with grief and loss, Cortisol, Coping, & Conversation gathering, a 4-week gathering focused on the intersection of grief and the body, and Grieving with HOPE.   She currently serves as Vice President of the AIMHiTN board. In her personal time, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the globe, writing, volunteering in her community, and collecting all things butterflies. Janet Gwilliam-Wright brings over twenty years of experience in leading large organizational changes and tackling complex policy issues. She is a prominent figure in the grief and loss community, having founded the Motherlove Project, a global platform for motherless daughters. Janet holds a Master of Arts and Public Administration from Queen's University. She resides in Ottawa, Ontario, with her partner Meghan and their two daughters. Together, Dr. Harris and Janet co-founded Bloomwell Partners, LLC, whose mission is helping organizations build compassionate, grief-informed cultures. Bloomwell equips managers and HR professionals with the skills needed to support employees dealing with grief and loss, using both evidence-based and innovative approaches. Learn More About Dr. Mekel Harris: Instagram: @DrMekel Website: MekelHarrisPhD.com Facebook: Mekel Harris, PhD, NCSP, PMH-C Book: ‘Relaxing Into the Pain’ -https://a.co/d/7sv9Txv Learn More About Janet Gwilliam-Wright: Instagram: @JanetGwilliamWright & @MotherLoveProject Website: MotherLoveProject.com Learn More About Bloomwell Partners, LLC: Instagram: @BloomwellPartners Website: GrowWithBloomwell.com Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Lou Pennisi. Lou Pennisi is a grief educator and illustrator. After a five-year period of cumulative losses, Lou found herself struggling with her grief. She felt like every time she came up for air, she was hit with another loss. Feeling isolated and alone after her mother passed, she decided to create an Instagram account where she would write about her feelings of grief, loss and regret and create an illustration to go with each post. It was never meant to be anything more than a place to pour her heart out, but it became so much more. Through sharing her vulnerability, the page grew quickly, and Lou could see that she was helping others by sharing. This, in turn, helped her healing process. Not long after, Lou became a grief educator, studying under David Kessler. She still works as an illustrator but has turned her focus more toward helping others in grief. Her mission is to normalize conversations about grief, educate society about the impacts of grief and trauma and create safe spaces for grievers—with no judgment and no timelines! Her Instagram account, @The_Grief_Project, is a place where grievers meet, interact and witness each other's grief. Learn More Lou: Instagram: @The_Grief_Project Facebook: The Grief Project TikTok: @The_Grief_Project Pinterest: @Lou_Pennisi Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Did you know that you can support DDJF while you shop on Amazon at no cost to you? Add DDJF as your selected charity via Amazon Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/dashboard/ref=smi_nav_surl_mi_x_mkt Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Prefer to listen as a podcast? Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Page full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Have you subscribed to our Podcast? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts : https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=bhNl9GjJRxKXUvTdwZme6Q Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb3dlcm9mbG92ZS5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Donate to DDJF (501c3): https://www.flipcause.com/hosted_widget/hostedWidgetHome/MTIxODI3 Check Out DDJF Merch: https://my-store-10253433.creator-spring.com/?# Join the Dee Dee Jackson Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571 Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation • https://instagram.com/deedeejacksonfoundation?utm_medium=copy_link --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show, TJ & Taj answer your questions! Tune in to hear their insights on all things grief, loss, hope, healing & more! Learn more about DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Alexx Friesen, BA, CCLS, CTP. Alexx Friesen is a Certified Child Life Specialist providing support to children with a family member on hospice or facing end of life. She also works in private practice, supporting infants, children and youth in her community who are facing medical challenges, end of life, grief and bereavement. With nearly 10 years of experience, Alexx’s passions lie in the areas of pediatric oncology, palliative care as well as death, dying and grief. Alexx is a published children’s book author who hopes to publish more books related to challenging medical experiences children and families face. She lives in Toronto with her husband and 2 year old Labrador retriever, Juno. Learn More Alexx: Instagram: @ChildLifeAlexx X: @ChildLifeAlexx Children’s Book - ‘All About the Intensive Care Unit’: https://a.co/d/doE8wZm Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Grant Garry’s Film: ‘Meet Me Where I Am’ Pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZVXX6T3?starsLeft=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_7GJ708CMTRZAN2WW7ZV1_1 Pre-order on AppleTV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/meet-me-where-i-am/umc.cmc.85dnfjr8cojvhckyc37iqher Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Nicki Elischer. Nicki Elischer is a child life specialist, clinical counsellor, and art therapist in Vancouver BC. When working as a child life specialist at a local pediatric hospital, she supported children and families to cope with hospitalization, illness, grief, and loss. There she met her colleague Amanada Lascelle, and together they created With Love Grief Gifts, a company that creates therapeutic sympathy gifts for children and teens. It was important to them to address the cultural taboo of talking about death with children, and to point out the importance of acknowledging and caring for children’s grief. Using their knowledge of child development, grief and loss, each gift they design meets children’s need for information, comfort, and ritual. They hope to change the way we respond to children’s grief by offering information, resources, and a tangible way to support children and youth experiencing grief and loss. Learn More Nicki: Website: WithLoveGriefGifts.com Instagram: @With.Love.Grief.Gifts Facebook: With Love • https://www.facebook.com/withlovegriefgifts Pinterest: With Love Grief Gifts • https://www.pinterest.ca/withlovegriefgifts/ Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Angila ‘Angie’ Hanson. Angie shares her story of immense loss — a journey marked by the deaths of her one-year-old son, Garret, her husband, Jack, her brother, Seth, and her sister-in-law, Brooke.  In her own profound grief, Angie Hanson found solace in a mission to change the narrative around grief, to bring light into the darkest moments, and to offer genuine support to those walking the path of loss. She founded Butterflies + Halos in 2022, a greeting card company that seeks to bridge the gap between sympathy and understanding, between condolence and companionship This greeting card company helps create a space for the griever so they feel less alone and show up intentionally for a friend and also help you as a friend send hope into your grieving friend's heart & home. These cards aren’t here to “fix” the grief, but to show you care and you are sharing in the grief journey with your friend.   Angie also is publishing her first book “Chapters of a Resilient Heart” that will be published in May 2024.  She also co-hosts a podcast “From Loss to Light Podcast” touching on all aspects of losses and how people have found their light.   Learn More Angie: Website: ButterfliesAndHalos.com Instagram: @ButterfliesAndHalos Facebook: Butterflies + Halos Etsy: Butterflies + Halos • https://www.etsy.com/shop/butterfliesandhalos?load_webview=1&bid=qxpAwJoDb4slYBbTtbDzRTS9t9ZR Pre-Order Book: ‘Chapters of a Resilient Heart’ • COMING MAY 2024: https://chaptersofaresilientheart.myshopify.com/ Shop Cards: https://butterfliesandhalos.com/collections/new-releases Podcast: ‘From Loss to Light’ • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-loss-to-light/id1695980324 Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Prefer to listen as a podcast? Click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Page full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Have you subscribed to our Podcast? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts : https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=bhNl9GjJRxKXUvTdwZme6Q Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb3dlcm9mbG92ZS5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Donate to DDJF (501c3): https://www.flipcause.com/hosted_widget/hostedWidgetHome/MTIxODI3 Check Out DDJF Merch: https://my-store-10253433.creator-spring.com/?# Join the Dee Dee Jackson Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571 Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation • https://instagram.com/deedeejacksonfoundation?utm_medium=copy_link --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we will be discussing an insightful article written by Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, for What’s Your Grief titled, ‘A Grief Care Plan: Your Foundation for Support’. Tune in to learn more about what a Grief Care Plan is, as well as how and why you should implement one. Read the Article: ‘Grief Care Plan: Your Foundation for Support’: https://whatsyourgrief.com/a-grief-care-plan-your-foundation-for-support/ Grief Care Plan PDF Fillable: https://whatsyourgrief.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/care-plan.pdf?fbclid=PAAaaQ4BNlOx5g6wpZ_2oMHoagjmEU4fYfHaiGOMHP4EmvZzcmJPDnjh03aGs_aem_AUNDSe1cUae4_2VOfYchdX45kwro6dT6G9JZJDmmN-UN0D31xg0CKi7hcsc2xR-N9MM Learn More About What’s Your Grief: Website: WhatsYourGrief.com Instagram: @WhatsYourGrief Facebook: What’s Your Grief? YouTube: What’s Your Grief? Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Crista Polich. After living for years in a verbally and physically abusive marriage, Crista summoned up the strength to end that unhealthy relationship.  She had just launched their youngest child off to college when she and her husband decided to get divorced. She knew it would be a challenging season, but little did she know what laid ahead.   Only three and a half weeks later, Crista suddenly found herself a widow. Her husband committed suicide… Crista and her children navigated through their grief together, and with the help of professional therapists. Because she had been a stay-at-home mom for most of her marriage, she found herself completely unprepared and overwhelmed for what life had now presented her. However, Crista did not sit idle. She began reclaiming her life one step at a time. She started tackling the tough stuff and now she helps others do the same.   Crista is the author of the captivating memoir, ‘Admitting Abuse: You might not get over it, but you will get through it.’ She is a powerful informational speaker where she engages audiences by sharing her emotional stories with unbridled truth and humor. She recently founded her own consulting business helping people be more prepared in the event of an unexpected tragedy. In addition, Crista is committed to helping widows and widowers less fortunate than she, which inspired her to start a non-profit ministry called ‘Widows Without’ through the non-profit Bridges US.   Crista is candid, encouraging and blunt about how she turned her tragedy into triumph and now she’s committed to helping others do the same. As she says, “I’m not bashful about telling people, don’t wait to get your sh*t together!” Learn More Crista: Website: BridgesUS.org Instagram: @CristaAndja Book: ‘Admitting Abuse: You Might Not Get Over It, But You Will Get Through It’ - https://a.co/d/65cMdtG Nonprofit: ‘Widows Without’ - https://bridgesus.org/bridge-leaders/crista-polich/?fbclid=PAAaaudh3fYRtdAhaDR_Uh0x7l1NvkHHrMlKxgUfssCaYPRtOF-n-FTbD3ffc_aem_AbwCAHyac40OMHj8CHNhntL-UdH6LtT0w-XbEIPQnhiUvZcSN5KNS8Hu_R5xEtOemyo Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Kara J. Lee. Kara J. Lee, a North Carolina native now living in Atlanta, GA, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. With three years of experience as a Social Worker in rural North Carolina hospices, Kara understands the depths of grief firsthand. Motivated by her personal journey, she founded the Releasing Grief Instagram Page as a safe haven for those facing similar struggles. Currently expanding her reach with the Releasing Grief YouTube Channel, Kara aims to provide support and comfort to others on their grief journey. Additionally, her eBook, "The Day I Lost Someone," shares valuable insights and experiences to aid others in navigating their own grief. Learn More About Kara: Instagram: @ReleasingGrief Children's eBook: https://issuu.com/releasinggrief/docs... Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Ashley Wolfe! Since 2007 Ashley has worked in hospitals, hospice and community settings as a Certified Child Life Specialist supporting families journeying through some of life's most significant trials. Specializing in palliative and grief support, Ashley has witnessed the importance of developmentally appropriate education and nurturing emotional expression in helping families navigate death and grief together.

After completing her Master's degree, Ashley worked as a Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice learning about and supporting families in the comfort of their own home around end of life. In 2021, she became an Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist offering this evidence based and action oriented practice both in person and virtually. Ashley has been an adjunct professor of Therapeutic Play at Central Washington University and believes that play, as the language of children, is one of the magic ingredients for having difficult conversations about death and grief.

In 2023 Ashley completed her training as a Death Doula and is honored to help families in their preparation of death, the honoring and coordinating of their loved ones wishes and the emotional support of their grief all along the way. Children are often excluded from the conversations and decisions made around the natural experience of death. It is Ashley's hope that with appropriate preparation and emotional support, the entire family can contribute in unique ceremony of their loved ones. 

Ashley embraces grief as our bodies natural response to change. She believes that we don't need to be cured from grief but rather companioned through the unique and personal journey. 
 Ashley is also the author of “My Journey With The Wind: A Magical Story of Grief,” which helps children and their caregivers have a common language to talk about and express the feelings of grief. Together, through the included therapeutic activities, the readers are able to reflect on their individual grief experiences and find helpful ways to integrate back into their new reality while maintaining connected bonds with their loved ones. Learn More About Ashley: Website: TheGrievingWell.com Instagram: @The_Grieving_Well Order Your Copy “My Journey With the Wind: A Magical Story of Grief”: https://a.co/d/4xjdYzP *All proceeds from this book will go to support the programming and community outreach of Let Grace In, a non-profit helping to support families who are grieving from the death of a child. Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Sara Olsher! After surviving a divorce and cancer all before she turned 35, mom and author-illustrator, Sara Olsher, took the lessons she learned about helping kids through major life changes and wrote a book. Then another, and another. She now has eleven picture books under her belt, and is the founder of “Mighty and Bright”, a company that helps kids and adults understand and manage their lives more easily using magnetic visual schedules. Sara was chosen as a 2023 Remarkable Woman by Nexstar Media. Learn More About Sara: Website: MightyAndBright.com Facebook: Mighty + Bright Instagram: @MightyAndBrightCo TikTok: @MightyAndBrightCo Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome BACK special guest & dear friend of DDJF, Leanne Friesen! You may recall from her previous appearance on The Power of Love Show in November of 2022 that Leanne is the author of ‘Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss’. Passionate about creating space for grief, she has run the popular instagram page @grieving.room for the last two years. Leanne is also an ordained minister and mother of two teenagers. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Learn More About Leanne: Website: LeanneFriesen.com Facebook: Leanne Friesen Instagram: @Grieving.Room Order ‘Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss’: https://a.co/d/iwvcxN9 Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome BACK special guest & dear friend of DDJF, Laura Formentini! You may recall from her previous appearances on The Power of Love Show in June of 2021 and March of 2022 that Laura is a not only a photographer and activist, but also a philanthropist, speaker & author of “Twentyone Olive Trees: A Mother’s Walk Through the Grief of Suicide to Hope and healing’. Her journey as a curious and empathetic individual has taken her around the world, engaging in various philanthropic activities. She has helped renovate an orphanage in Kenya, a clinic in Malawi, and raised funds for their improvement. As a nonprofit photographer, she has worked with multiple organizations worldwide, driven by the belief that proactive love can heal both the world and ourselves. Her travels have shaped her into an advocate for child welfare and animal cruelty prevention. She has been to Italy, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Puerto Rico, raising funds for numerous causes. With her background in archaeology, conservation, and photography, she has led a project for free sterilization of street dogs and cats in Italy. She supports several organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Mercy for Animals, Best Friends Animal Society, Kiva, the ASPCA, and LAV (Lega Anti-Vivisezione Italia). For 20+ years, she has also sponsored over 50 children globally through PlanUSA. Five years after the loss of her son, Laura’s perspective on grief has profoundly evolved and as result, her life’s mission has as well. Here today to share a bit more about her inspiring and admirable work, without further ado please welcome Laura Formentini BACK to The Power of Love Show! Learn More About Laura: Website: LauraFormentini.com Facebook: Author Laura Formentini Instagram: @AuthorLauraFormentini Email: info@lauraformentini.com Order ‘Twentyone Olive Trees: A Mother’s Walk Through the Grief of Suicide to Hope and Healing’: https://a.co/d/0cGVwjg Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show, we have a special guest, Dr. Korie Leigh, Ph.D, CCLS, CT. Dr. Korie Leigh is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based published children’s book author, university professor, child life specialist, and grief counselor who has spent 20 years working with children and families experiencing grief and loss. As an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Thanatology program at Marian University she teaches graduate courses on child development, death, dying, and bereavement. Dr. Leigh obtained her Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology, where she wrote her dissertation on the lived experiences of bereaved parents. She also holds an M.A. in public health and grief counseling and a B.A. in child development. Her first book, ‘What Does Grief Feel Like’ was released in 2023 and her second book is set to be released in winter of 2024 and is written for grieving teens. Dr. Leigh serves on the board of directors for Hero’s Path Palliative and provides psychosocial care to medically fragile children and their families. She speaks and presents at national and regional conferences on issues of grief, loss, and coping. Learn More About Dr. Leigh: Website: KorieLeighPHD.com Instagram: @DrKorieLeigh Email: DrKorieLeigh@gmail.com Order ‘What Does Grief Feel Like’: https://a.co/d/0Oj7Y2T Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show, we have a special guest, Kera Sanchez—a Chicago-based High School Spanish teacher, wife, and mother of two. Following the unexpected loss of her mother in Italy at 57, Kera embarked on a grief journey, resulting in the creation of the 'Legacy Letters Guided Journal.' This journal enables individuals to craft handwritten legacies of love, advice, and support, ensuring families globally can navigate unforeseen loss with a lasting legacy. Translated into Spanish, the journal led to the release of Kera’s second published work, ‘No Legacy Lost,' a guided memory and grief journal. Kera, who pokes fun at her grief journey with her Instagram community, plans to launch 'Get Griefy,' a grief magazine in early 2024. Join us as Kera Sanchez shares insights into her personal journey, guided journals, and the upcoming grief magazine on The Power of Love Show! Learn More About Kera: Website: LegacyLettersJournal.com Instagram: @LegacyLettersJournal & @GetGriefyMagazine Order ‘Legacy Letters’: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2FhB3qq7V&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1CQVBWH4y_JSugDKRJUtLC Order ‘No Legacy Lost’: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2F2KTtxb0&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw0zJ9n3kGmSSBDZvPxmXnqH Subscribe ‘Get Griefy’: https://mailchi.mp/4945259edede/lets-get-griefy-get-griefy-magazine-coming-2024 Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation X: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this special episode of The Power of Love Show we have created a safe space where we openly discussed our grief during the holiday season and reflected on our individual journeys as a community. Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Michelle D. Hord. Michelle Hord is a media consultant, executive coach, published author and speaker. She is the former VP of Creative Content and Talent Management for NBCUniversal and has spent more than three decades in media. She has worked with organizations such as ABC’s Good Morning America, the Oxygen Network, CBS News, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.   Michelle’s memoir The Other Side of Yet was published in 2022 by Atria Books. Her book tells of her grief journey of resilience in the face of tremendous personal loss. The book features journal entries over a period of several years. It received a Christopher Award in 2023. She has been featured in O Magazine, The Tamron Hall Show, The Talk, GMA, Essence Magazine, and others.   Michelle founded a nonprofit, ‘Gabrielle’s Wings’, to honor the memory of her daughter, Gabrielle. Dedicated to giving children of color from vulnerable communities the tools they need to soar above their circumstances, Gabrielle’s Wings serves a global community of elementary aged children through educational, recreational, and cultural engagement with partners on three continents. Learn More About Michelle: Website: MichelleDHord.com Instagram: @MDHord Facebook: Michelle D. Hord of Hope Warrior, Inc.  Order ‘The Other Side of Yet’: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982173521?nodl=1&tag=simonsayscom&dplnkId=3037c672-cb3e-4209-bec4-0b443793ed74 Donate to Gabrielle’s Wings: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/gabrielles-wings/website-donation Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Aimee Joy Taylor. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Aimee Joy Taylor is a highly regarded educator in the field of Grief Massage. Drawing from her own personal experiences with grief, she developed a unique approach and training program that centers around the transformative power of safe and gentle touch. Having gone through the sudden and traumatic loss of two family members in her twenties, Aimee carries a profound understanding of grief. In her early forties now, she feels deeply honored to have touched the lives of many individuals through her work in Grief Massage. Her contributions have been recognized with Grief Massage Community Service Grants from The Massage Therapy Foundation. Aimee has also published an insightful article on Grief Massage in Massage and Bodywork magazine. Through her organization, The Institute for Grief Massage Inc., she has had the privilege of training Grief Massage practitioners from the United States, Canada, Australia, and France. Aside from her expertise in Grief Massage, Aimee holds a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has gained valuable experience as a Grief Counseling Intern at a hospice organization, further enhancing her ability to support individuals through their grief journeys. Aimee is happily married and her days are filled with the delightful excitement and unbridled joy brought by her young toddler. Learn More About Aimee Website: GriefMassage.org Instagram: @TheInstituteForGriefMassage Facebook: The Institute for Grief Massage Inc. Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

As we commemorate a remarkable achievement, the 300th episode of The Power of Love Show, we have the privilege of welcoming a very special guest, Caroline Baumis, who is not only part of DDJF's Board of Directors, but also an integral member of our team! Caroline has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with an emphasis on youth and families. Caroline began her career at AmeriCares, where she quickly became the Executive Director of Camp AmeriKids, one of the first camps for children with HIV/AIDS in the tri-state area of NY, NJ, and CT. During her tenure as Executive Director, Caroline participated in several relief missions across the globe, including the Albania Refugee Crisis in 1999. Caroline decided to get her master’s degree in social work from Fordham and went on to work in the field of social work at the Westchester Institute of Human Development. Caroline quickly realized that social work wasn't for her and felt that healing came from alleviating feelings of isolation, and she went on to lead several small grassroots organizations until she founded her own charity….Camp TLC (Together Living a Challenge), a program for families living with a medical or life trauma. Since its inception in 2011, Camp TLC has run over 40 programs in five states, including the challenging region of Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Recently, Caroline also joined the Alzheimer's Association and serves as Program Manager, where she lends her skills to develop educational programs for Nevada. Caroline joined the Board of DDJF in 2019 because she believes in the healing power of music therapy and is working to help expand our programs in the state of Nevada. Learn More About Caroline & Camp TLC: Website: TheCampTLC.org Facebook: Camp T.L.C. (Together Living a Challenge Donate to Camp TLC: https://www.givsum.com/charities/camp-tlc-together-living-a-challenge-corporation Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support

On this episode of The Power of Love Show we welcome special guest, Lisa Keefauver, MSW. Lisa Keefauver is a grief activist and the founder of Reimagining Grief. Lisa has more than two decades of professional experiences with grief and loss. She has worked as a social worker, narrative therapist, and educator within multiple settings from non-profits to corporations and universities. Lisa's wisdom and understanding of grief is also embodied from her personal losses, including the death of her husband in 2011. Lisa's grief advocacy has inspired her to create and host the top-rated podcast, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch; serve as an adjunct professor of Loss and Grief at the University of Texas at Austin; act as an organizational consultant to facilitate grief-smart organizations; write and appear as a thought leader across media platforms, including her viral TEDx Talk, ‘Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less’ and write her heavily anticipated book, Grief Is A Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss which is set to released in June 2024. Learn More About Lisa: Website: LisaKeefauver.com Instagram: @LisaKeefauverMSW & @GriefIsASneakyBitch Facebook: Reimagining Grief Podcast: ‘Grief Is A Sneaky B!tch’ - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch/id1474558908 TED Talk: ‘Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make It Suck Less’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYtwSU-qaWc Forthcoming Book: ‘Grief Is A Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss’ (published by UT Press June 2024). Learn More About DDJF: Website: DDJF.org Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation Facebook: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation LinkedIn: Dee Dee Jackson Foundation Twitter: @DDJFoundation Leave a podcast review: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-love-show/id1282931846 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6X6zGAPmdReRrlLO0NW4n6?si=koXehESfSrSwA-zWi2vf-w Can’t make the live-stream? You can always watch our syndicated interviews later on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Nd1HTnbaI Like Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/884355188308946/ Join our Official Facebook Group full of supportive community members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500933326745571/?ref=share_group_link Visit the DDJF official website: http://www.ddjf.org/ Follow us on Instagram: @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepowerofloveshow/support