It's All About the Story: Personal Grief Stories

It’s happened to many of us – we return to work following the death of a loved one. We’re anxious. Our co-workers are afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Suzanne Jobour returned to work with trepidation following the death of her son, Ben. She now shares her experience openly – her grief journey resulted in a mission to help change grief in the workplace, one organization at a time.Suzanne Jabour (she/her)https://SuzanneJabour.comGrief Educator for business leaders who want to address grief in the workplace to save money and boost retention, engagement and productivity. 

Becky Cort combines two passions in her profession of caring for those who are experiencing loss: her compassion for people and her love of horses. Learn about the fascinating world of Equine Assistant Therapy, and the role a horse can play with its ability to create a non-judgmental space for those who are on a grief journey.rebeccacort@comcast.net

Lisa and Monica first met on a flight from Las Vegas to Calgary. Little did they know that they would become best friends because of their common grief journey - both had experienced the death of a parent.Hear about their first encounter, the lessons they've learned from each since then, and their ongoing long-distance friendship as they continue to support each other in their grief across the miles. You'll be encouraged and challenged as you hear their amazing and unique story.

Holistic nutrition professional and Red Seal chef, Jenna Den Hoed, joins us for a second episode about nutrition and health.Jen will help us reflect upon the foods we purchase and eat. She’ll also take a deep dive into understanding foods that help us sleep better and support brain health.Why not begin 2024 by examining the foods you ingest and by discovering how to change your eating habits so you can find energy and enjoy life to the max?https://jenourish.ca/Book a free discovery call with Jenna 

 Holistic nutrition professional and Red Seal chef, Jenna Den Hoed, takes us into the fascinating world of foods for healthy living.In this episode you will receive a wealth of information about why your body works the way it does and why certain foods help you to thrive as you nourish body, mind, and soul.You will learn about stress and food, gaining information from current research that will answer many of your food choice questions. You’ll also hear Jenna’s personal story as she was diagnosed with celiac disease at seven years of age. This in turn led to her passion of helping people understand food choices for their ongoing health and happiness.https://jenourish.ca/Book a free discovery call with Jenna

How do you start a conversation about your own end of life? And when is a good time to talk about it? Holly Stubbs’ story – of learning from her Nan at an early age and her ongoing experience as an end-of-life educator, death doula and funeral director – offers us wisdom about this often-difficult topic. Learn from Holly as she takes us through the steps that she uses to begin this important discussion with family members. Join us for Around the Kitchen Table.Email: holly@seekingsolace.com.auInstagram: seekingsolacetasmaniaFacebook: Seeking SolaceWebsite: www.seekingsolace.com.au (currently under construction)

In this podcast, host Rick Bergh interviews Jackie Maxwell, who shares her personal experience with eating disorders, specifically anorexia and bulimia. Jackie discusses the challenges she faced, the impact on her mental and physical health, and the many losses she experienced over the years.  And yet, she offers hope and wisdom to those who might be struggling with an eating disorder and insightful suggestions to those who may know a family member or friend who is struggling with this disease.To contact Jackie:https://www.awarenessandrenew.com/

Audrey White experienced eight significant losses in a short period of time – both her mother and father died, followed by her brother’s murder.These compound losses drove her into deep learning and an ongoing quest for more understanding. Audrey’s unexpected calling to companion others in their grief journey as a grief coach will inspire you. I invite you to listen to her story as one who has experienced much loss and now has a passion to serve others in their grief journey. https://griefcoachacademy.com/

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 32, Jana and her husband Cory’s hopes and dreams took a different direction. Jana shares candidly the many challenges of living daily with this disease and the losses she experienced. She also offers practical suggestions about how we might be sensitive to others who are on a similar journey to hers.

Writing Poetry – A Griever’s FriendSeven years into Mike Berhardt’s marriage, his wife died.Writing poetry became a means to express his deep loss on paper.Reaching out to other grievers, Mike found that, like himself, many others also expressed their experience through poetry. He compiled his first book of poems, Voices of the Grieving Heart.Thirty years later, during COVID, he gathered more poems and re-contacted the original contributors to hear about their grief journeys 30 years later. These reflections resulted in a second addition of his book.Hear Mike’s story, his poems, the poems of other contributors and Mike’s thoughts on the sixth stage of grief, Finding Meaning.https://mikebernhardt.net/

TELL ME NOWLong-distance words that matter at the end of life Katie Cowan’s much-loved auntie was in her final days on earth. The terminal diagnosis and placement into palliative care during COVID and subsequent restrictions meant that Katie had limited access to her aunt…Wouldn’t her aunt want to hear significant stories and memories from friends? Wouldn’t connecting with the many people that her aunt had touched during her lifetime be helpful in her aunt’s last chapter? Wouldn’t it be important for people to share their most impactful stories?In this podcast, you’ll hear how Katie solved this problem and how it made a difference in her auntie’s last days. Katie will also reflect upon why we might want to consider last words and how the concept of a living memorial might impact our own last chapter.https://tellmenow.ca/  

Viewing Grief Through a Holiday LensFollowing the death of his father, Richard Allen began an in-depth search to understand his grief experience. This led to him write three books, each book focusing on a different aspect of grief that he discovered through his own grief journey and through research. In this interview, he speaks about his experience and shares some of his wisdom, applying it to a holiday grief experience.email: breadandwinemediallc@outlook.comFacebook page - https://www.facebook.com/GriefSupportGroup.LifeAfter/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letthegriefbegin/Keep Calm and Cope With Grief - https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Calm-Cope-Grief-Chapters/dp/B09QK7RD3K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8Life After This - https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-This-Chapters-Contacted/dp/B0B5NJ5TKM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8Nature's Reach - https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Reach-Coping-Grief-Natural/dp/B0BH3C713K/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1664840597&sr=1-4author homepage on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09QLD1D1Z?ingress=0&visitId=f4384fd4-1f72-4cbc-9ca9-ed29d3cfcacc  

Jennifer Thom entered into the funeral profession as a result of a personal family tragedy. It drove her to consider the importance of communicating honestly about death, dying and grief.For two decades, she has helped hundreds of families in the midst of grief which led to her writing her book, When Flowers Are Not Enough.Jennifer offers her wisdom as it relates to Holiday Grief and provides some profound insights that will help lighten your grief during one of the most difficult times of the year, when so many people are experiencing joy – and you, sadness. Physical book https://www.stronger-lifeconnections.com/offers/XHC77LiH/checkoutE-book https://www.stronger-lifeconnections.com/offers/FDoT2dSi/checkoutAmazon https://www.amazon.com/When-Flowers-Arent-Enough-Lessons-ebook/dp/B09JG244FX/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=YU879LTKGIBK&keywords=when+flowers+aren%27t+enough&qid=1670347618&sprefix=when+flowers+arent+enough%2Caps%2C331&sr=8-2

In this podcast, Anette Stanwick openly shares her personal grief journey following the murder of her brother. Listen to her powerful story and she moves from deep sadness and anger towards peace and forgiveness.You will be deeply touched by the events in her life that changed her heart and have now become her life’s message to help other people experiencing the hold that un-forgiveness has on their life.https://annettestanwick.com/   

Infant Death… Times ThreeOne father’s story of the minutes he sharedJohn and his wife, Susan, were expecting triplets. The prospect of raising three children simultaneously was part of their everyday conversation and future dreams.Then complications led to the death of all three infants.John and Susan chose to honour the few minutes they had with each child. In this interview, John inspires us to look at each brief moment as a valued gift to be viewed with gratitude.John Sirpilla is a best-selling author who offers his listeners some important principles on how to live with loss. His words are sure to encourage and equip you on your own personal journey of grief.https://www.encourage33.com/To purchase Johnny's book:Life is Hard but I'll Be OK: The Power of Hope Emerging through Pain and Learning to Live with Gratitude please go to amazon.com 

How My Daughter’s Death Changed MeThe death of her only daughter, Tiffany, pushed Sharon into a deep pursuit of God, as she searched for meaning and purpose.Following Tiffany’s tragic accident and death, Sharon chose to move intentionally into her grief in order to explore her future.Coming out the other side 27 years later, Sharon now shares what she has learned along the path of grief and how it gave her a new purpose, leading her to pen her latest book, Riding the Waves of Grief.https://enlightenedgrieving.blog/https://www.amazon.ca/RIDING-WAVES-GRIEF-Strategies-Drowning/dp/B09P2R548C 

Jordan was married for 12 days. Then tragedy struck. He died in a workplace accident.Listen to the deeply moving story of his mom, Shirley, as she describes the grief journey following her son’s death.She speaks about the turning point in her grief journey where she began ask some important questions. Those questions led her to a different understanding of pain and God’s new purpose for her life.In this podcast, you will discover practical tools on companioning people in their grief journey. Shirley has distilled her own learning and wisdom into an online course entitled Hope Heroes.You will be surprised at how the title of her book came into being and how it prepared a mom for the tragic news of her son’s death.To purchase the book or course please go to: https://shirleythiessen.com/   

Katty Douraghty joins me for a fascinating interview, reflecting upon her grief journey. In 2011, Katty's mother, father and step-mother all died within a 4-month period.It was following  her mom’s death that she experienced something unusual, mysterious and unexplainable, changing the way she viewed grief moving forward.Learn how  “grief woke Katty up” leading her to write her book, The ButterflyYears: Journey Through Grief Toward Hope.Tune in and discover some grieving practices that were helpful to Katty during her journey and may be helpful to you as well. Please use the discount code  to purchase the book:  https://www.butterflyyears.com/discount/Story15https://www.butterflyyears.com/  

Terry died by suicide at the young age of 29.  His mom, Barbara, reflects upon her journey and shares her wisdom about the type of grief she experienced following the suicide. Barbara will share her story and tell us how she continues to honour and remember Terry, 11 and a half years later. She'll offer listeners valuable insight  from her experience and recommend some important resources for those  on a similar grief journey.

Love for a Big SisterStill strong, even in the missingHayden Lewis was 24 years old when his big sister died of cancer. Seven years later, Hayden shares about his journey with Rebekah, his sister, including the few weeks prior to her death. You’ll hear about his grief as the only remaining child in his family, his transition through loss and how he continues to remember his sister in his new chapter.