Good Grief with Nikki the Death Doula

It’s not all about resolutions to “finally lose weight!”. It’s a time to reflect on where we’ve come from and where we are going. Enjoy this rebroadcast from last year on what it means to flip that page on the calendar.Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

I post this every Christmas. Enjoy!

The holidays are stressful enough without grief on top of it. I’m learning first hand with this first holiday season without my mom. (Hence the rebroadcast) Please enjoy this episode from my early days on navigating grief during the holiday.Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

This week’s episode is a little different.I’m taking some much-needed space after the death of my mom, and for the remainder of season 7, I’ll be sharing a few rebroadcasts of listener favorites. Grief doesn’t exactly check your calendar (inconsiderate, right?) or wait for production schedules, and right now my heart needs a quieter pace.Thank you for giving me room to breathe, remember, and be a daughter for a minute. I’ll be back with new episodes in January, hopefully with a little more rest in my bones and a little less chaos in my inbox.In the meantime, please enjoy this soul shattering short story, The Woman and The Falcon.Thanks for sticking with me. Truly.You can get Susan’s book here: https://a.co/d/hNyWC8QSupport me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

In this episode, I sit down with Wil “Wize” Otero, a motivational speaker, podcaster, producer, and life coach who has made it his mission to help people transform their pain into purpose. After losing his wife at just 31 and grieving multiple close family members, Wize found himself staring grief in the face with nothing but questions… and a whole lot of heartache.Instead of collapsing inward, he created the Stuck In My Mind Podcast, a space where honest stories, healing conversations, and resilience take center stage. Today, he also runs Real Wize Productions, helping others bring their stories to life through meaningful, impactful media.Wize brings honesty, heart, and zero fluff. This conversation is part pep-talk, part permission slip, and part “hey, you’re not alone.”You can find him here: www.realwizeglobal.comPodcast: Stuck In My Mind PodcastInstagram: @wize_el_jefeFacebook: Stuck In My Mind PodcastYouTube: Real Wize TVSupport me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: Mentions of suicideIn this episode, I sit down with Toni Akin, a powerhouse in public education and a deeply compassionate advocate for those navigating affordable and subsidized housing. With over 20 years in the educational field, Toni brings a rare blend of lived experience, sharp insight, and heart-forward leadership.Toni’s story began in affordable housing in Boston, where she was raised by her grandmother. An experience that taught her the lifesaving impact of supportive adults and community programs. Now, she’s on a mission to challenge the stigma surrounding subsidized housing and to expand access to educational opportunities for underserved communities.You can find Toni here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonidakinToni is the current Board Director (Treasurer) of TerraCorps which focuses on environmental education and is a member of the New England Education Opportunity Association (NEOA)Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: some graphic descriptions of violence, mentions of suicide and some strong languageAfter losing everything Kelly Kirk met the love of his life. After losing her Kelly turned to fitness to rebuild body and soul. In this episode, he shares how bodybuilding became his path through grief and how the Sofia Graham Foundation now helps others find strength after loss.Connect with Kelly and learn more at https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/kellykirksofiagrahamfoundation.orghttps://www.facebook.com/Kelly222MuscleKelly Kirk is the founder of 222Muscle, The Sofia Graham Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving mental health through physical strength. He is an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, certified John Maxwell keynote speaker, and veteran educator and coach.Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: mentions of suicideAfter decades as a nurse and a lifetime of personal loss; Diane Carbo founded Caregiver Relief to help others find balance and healing. In this episode, she shares how grief shaped her calling and the lessons every caregiver needs to hear.You can find more information on Diane here: caregiverrelief.comSupport me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: pregnancy loss, some discussion of medical procedures.In this episode of I sit down with author J.S. Loving for an open, heartfelt conversation about a father’s experience with miscarriage. The pain, the silence, and the long road toward healing.While much of the conversation around pregnancy loss centers mothers (as it should), fathers often grieve quietly in the background, unsure where to put their pain or how to talk about it. J.S. shares his personal story of loss, what inspired his writing, and why he believes it’s time we start including men in the conversation about miscarriage and grief.Whether you’ve experienced miscarriage personally or are supporting someone who has, this episode offers compassion, insight, and a reminder that grief doesn’t follow gender rules.You can find his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Holding-Onto-Light-Fathers-Journey/dp/B0DYY5S5XM/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: mention of suicide and infant lossGrief touches us all, but no two losses are ever the same. In this episode I sit down with Karen Tarnopol Schultz; grief survivor, speaker, and founder of Heirloom Consulting. Karen’s story is one of deep personal loss: the death of her father at age ten, the suicide of a close friend in her teens, and the stillbirth of her daughter. Each experience shaped the way she understands grief and the ways it shows up differently in our lives.Today, Karen brings both her lived experience and her professional expertise to the conversation. Through her company, Heirloom Consulting, she helps families with estate administration after a loss and guides people in proactive legacy planning so their loved ones aren’t left with a scavenger hunt of paperwork during an already difficult time.You can find Karen here: www.heirloomconsultants.com and here; https://karentarnopolschultz.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/syndee-big-loss/Also mentioned in the episode: https://www.roadid.com/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Caregiving can be one of the loneliest jobs in the world, even when you’re constantly around others. If you’ve ever felt invisible, cut off from friends, or like nobody really “gets it”, this episode is for you.What is The paradox of caregiver isolation and why are loved ones drifting away?Whether you’re caring for a partner, parent, child, or friend, know this: you are not as alone as you feel.Mentioned in the episode:https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/blog/quick-amp-healthy-meals-for-busy-caregivers118. Simple Escapes104. Self CareSupport me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Grief and menopause. What happens when these two massive life transitions collide? In this episode I dive into the under-discussed intersection of menopause and mourning.Why do hormonal shifts intensify grief symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, and insomnia? and why the cultural silence around women’s midlife transitions!! Lets talk about Practical ways to support yourself (and others) through this double-whammy of emotional and physical change.Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: mentions of miscarriageIn this deeply touching episode I say down with Emily Hill of Everyday Epiphany to explore the quiet corners of grief we so often avoid; miscarriage, death work, and the stigma that still surrounds both. As a social worker, chaplain and writer, Emily brings such an amazing perspective on what it means to hold space for dying patients and grieving families all while while carrying her own personal loss. And How faith and chaplaincy shape (and sometimes complicate) our grief journeysYou can find Emily here: https://www.everydayepiphany.net/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: some light swearingIt started with losing his partner to AIDS in the 90s. And turned into a long road of losses that spanned a lifetime.Bill is a writer from Boston now living in LA. He has a feature film, 'Paradise A Town of Sinners & Saints' streaming on YoutubeMovies & GoogleTV. He also has a book series on Amazon, 'Uncle Bill's Animal Tales - Life Lessons for Adults' is the first in a series of five.Bill is 28 years clean and sober and volunteers with G4G, Gays 4 Good. He is active in his spiritual community being a member of the Agape International Spiritual Center.He has also written for National Lampoon Magazine, a kids show on PBS, and ran sketch comedy shows out of NY, Boston, and LA. He will soon be working with seniors in the LA area helping them to write their memoirs.You can find Bill here:www.paradisebluegrassmusical.comhttps://www.facebook.com/bill.robertson.3720Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

A.D. (Angie) Vancise is an award-winning author whose writing explores grief, trauma, and truth. Her semi-autobiography, Cry of an Osprey was inspired by the loss of her brother, father, and mother, while her latest novel, Hidden in the Shadows-winner of the American Fiction Award in Horror- was written from a place of deep grief for the children who never had a voice, shinning light on the hidden realities of trafficking and generational abuse. She lives in Hockley Valley with her partner, three dogs, four cats, and three step kids who mostly forgave her for skipping dinner to write one more chapter. Through her stories, A.D. (Angie) hopes to help others heal and speak the truths too often buried in silence.You can find Angie here: https://advancise.net/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Sharon Laflamme is the Facilitator and founder of Creating Serenity Now, LLC. She took her life’s passions of human behavior, health, nutrition, yoga, meditation and incorporated them into creating an internal space for healing. No stranger to loss and grief herself, she works with people to help resolve the lasting effects of childhood trauma on the body.You can find Sharon here: https://www.creatingserenitynow.com/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-mond

Cortland Mullins started Grief Club after her mother died and she realized how deep grief can go. It’s a dynamic program in Columbus Ohio with all manner of programs for people facing grief. Her story is deep and powerful, touching on addiction, forgiveness and, of course, grief.You can find Cortland and The Grief Club here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortland-mullins-60659b217/https://www.instagram.com/wearethegriefclubhttps://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-grief-club-104414191611Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

I had an amazing conversation with the founder and director of griefcycles.org, Sean Muzzy. After losing his son Sean had a choice. He could let the grief consume him or use it to help others. He chose the latter. Men tend to get the short of of the stick when it comes to grief, but Sean refuses to let men suffer alone.You can find Sean at https://linktr.ee/griefcyclesSupport me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

What if you looked perfectly fine but had your brain rewired seven times? Jeff Pearson has.I had a lovely conversation with Jeff Person of Invisible Condition, a TV show for people living with non visible chronic conditions. We talked all things chronic, podcasting, non profits and everything in between.You can find Jeff here:https://e360tv.com/networks/play_series/invisible-condtionhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-pearson-b57a564/Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday