Grief Out Loud

Latest Episodes:

Welcome To The Grief Club - Janine Kwoh Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

In 2016, when they were in their late twenties, Janine Kwoh's partner died. Nap's death launched her into a new world of grief. Janine was the first person in her peer group to have a partner die and she felt confused and isolated. Because we live in a world that judges relationships against external markers like engagement, marriage, parenting, and co-ownership, Janine questioned whether the intensity of her grief was valid. In the five years since Nap's death, Janine examined her emotions and reactions through the lens of her artistry. This culminated in her new book, Welcome to the Grief Club, an illustrated mix of reflections and insights on grief and loss and joy and love. Janine Kwoh is also the owner and designer of Kwohtations, a stationery company and design studio. Topics we cover: Dating again after a partner dies. Dealing with anxiety that someone else will die. Allowing for the intensity of grief. Building your life out around grief. Rage at the Target checkout. Being okay with having joy and love again.

The Power Of Loss & Love - TJ Jackson Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

TJ Jackson had just gotten his driver's license as a teenager when his mother, Dee Dee Jackson, was murdered. Almost three decades later, TJ and his brothers Taryll & Taj, started a non-profit in her memory. The Dee Dee Jackson Foundation is dedicated to supporting others in their grief through music workshops, grief education, and their podcast Power of Love.

In this episode we talk about how grief changes over time, what it was like to grieve as part of a very public family, and how becoming a father connected TJ to his grief in a new way.

TJ is the son of Tito and nephew to Janet and Michael Jackson. He has a solo music career and is also part of the band 3T with his brothers Taryll & Taj. There are many ways to connect with TJ and his work:

His website http://www.tjjackson.com

The Dee Dee Jackson Foundationhttps://www.ddjf.org/

The Family Ruleshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1IurH9xo7Y36t_IHt0TWtw

Instagram@TJJackson9 @DeeDeeJacksonFoundation @TheFamilyRules

Suicide Postvention - What Schools Can Do Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

Anne Moss Rogers never imagined she would dedicate her working life to reducing suicide risk and supporting those grieving a death by suicide. She first came to this work in search of answers after her son Charles died of suicide in 2015. Most recently, her focus has been on helping teachers and school adminstrators respond when a student is struggling with thoughts of suicide. Part of that focus is also on postvention - the steps schools can take to supporting their community when a student or teacher dies of suicide. Anne Moss is co-author of the new book, Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. Visit Anne Moss Roger's website to learn more. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. Text HOME to 741741 Call 1-800-273-8255 24/7 The Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQIA youth: 1.866.488.7386. Therapy for Black Girls

Grief & Money - A Legacy Of Financial Fear Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

In the last of our three-part series on Grief & Money, we explore how fears about financial stability can be part of grief. When she was 13 and her father died of a heart attack, Shannon already had a narrative of insecurity when it came to her family and money. Even though they had access to more resources after her father died, this narrative just grew stronger. This legacy of financial fear continues to shadow Shannon, even as an adult living in a secure two income household. We discuss grief, money, and the importance of talking openly about finances and security with children and teens when someone in their family dies. Big thanks to InRoads Credit Union for sponsoring this series on Grief & Money. InRoads is here for you. Shannon mentions her friend Nicole who is a Death Worker - learn more about her work here & on Instagram @emeraldawakenings

Parenting Parentless - Katie C. Reilly Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

Growing up, Katie C. Reilly, hadn't thought much about grief or mental health. Then, within the span of four years, Katie's mother died of ALS and her father died of cancer. This grief sent her spinning. As a journalist and writer, Katie turned to research as a way to better understand her own experience. In this conversation we delve into being a parentless parent, grieving a miscarriage, and how complex relationships can shape our grief.

Follow Katie on Twitter and her website. Kaite's article on the first year of parenting parentless.

She Was My Favorite Person - Hello, I'm Grieving & Dr. Julie Shaw Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

When our favorite person dies, our entire world gets up-ended. That person was often the planet in our galaxy that all the other planets and moons orbited. For Dr. Julie Shaw that person was her big sister, Jennifer. Jennifer died of Lupus in February of 2020. In the months that followed, Dr. Shaw realized how important it is for people to have acknowledgment and connection in their grief. So, she started Hello, I'm Grieving, a social media account focused on bringing more visibility and awareness to grief.

In our conversation we talk about:

How grief changes our family dynamics
What it means when your favorite person dies.
The interplay of grief and Dr. Shaw's work as an equity & inclusion consultant.
The impact of Hello, I'm Grieving.
How to be present for others while carring your own grief.
Navigating the grief of infertility.

Follow Dr. Julie Shaw and Hello, I'm Grieving on Instagram, Facebook, and online.

Grief & Money - Suddenly Responsible For Everything Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

This is the second episode in our three-part Grief & Money series. We don't get through life without grief and we also can't get through life without dealing with money. Jessica was in her early twenties when she became a full-time caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. At the same time, Jessica was traveling to Colombia to care for her father who had Alzheimer's. After her parents died just three months apart, Jessica assumed responsibility for their finances. All while navigating the intense shock and heartbreak of their deaths. This series is sponsored by InRoads Credit Union. InRoads is here for you.

Self-Care In The Early Days Of Grief - Paula Becker Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

Paula Becker is a writer, so when her son Hunter was killed in 2017, she searched for help in the pages of books. What she found were books heavy with text. The problem was her grief made it impossible to concentrate on that text. She recently published A Little Book of Self-Care for Those Who Grieve - the book she most wished she had in those first days, weeks, and months after Hunter died.

Paula was a guest back on Episode 148 - Wrongful Death - A Grieving Mother's Story. Visit Paula's website to learn more about her work.

A Kids Book About Grief Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Jelani Memory is the co-founder of A Kids Company About, which publishes books for kids about important topics like anxiety, empathy, racism, body image, and more. These are conversations kids are ready to have, often long before the adults in their lives feel prepared to have them. That's where A Kids Company About comes in with books that help adults and kids navigate these complex concepts. We are excited to announce that Dougy Center and A Kids Company About collaborated on their latest publication, A Kids Book About Grief. It's authored by Dougy Center's Executive Director, Brennan Wood, who writes directly to kids about what she learned about grief when her mom died just after Brennan's 12th birthday. Learn more about A Kids Company About and their entire library of books for kids and the adults who care about them.

An Altered State - Jeff Porter & Planet Claire Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

When Jeff Porter's wife Claire died of an aneurysm, his world imploded. As he spent time with her in the hospital and started to wander that imploded world after she died, he talked to her, carrying on a conversation they had shared for 27 years. He also started writing and analyzing his experience with grief. This writing led to the publication of his newest book, Planet Claire: Suite for Cello and Sad-Eyed Lovers.

Visit Jeff's website Learn more about Planet Claire

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