52 - Grief Out Loud: An Interview With Jana Decristofaro Host of the Dougy Center Podcast
Description
Today I'm joined by Jana DeCristofaro, Advocacy and Education Manager at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children and Families. For over 20 years, Jana has been a steady presence in the world of grief support, facilitating peer groups, developing trainings and resources, and hosting the highly respected podcast Grief Out Loud.
In this episode, Jana shares how she first entered the field of grief work through Dougy Center’s pioneering peer support model, and how that framework continues to shape the compassionate, non-prescriptive way she holds space for children, teens, and adults who are grieving.
We also explore:
- The evolution of Grief Out Loud and what Jana has learned through over 300 conversations about loss
- Recurring themes that surface in the stories of grief she helps amplify
- How her own personal losses, especially the death of her dog, have deepened her connection to the work
- Why she favors offering “permission slips” over advice for those navigating grief
This thoughtful, grounded conversation offers deep insight into what it means to support others through grief, and how grief, in turn, shapes us.
United States
