John Kammer, founder of Guardian A(i)ngels, an AI-powered grief support platform, discusses the ways technology may help us in our grief as we create our new relationship with those we’ve lost. Together, Rebecca, Andrea, and John explore the emotional complexities of AI as a tool for something as intimate as our grief. John shares his experiences of the untimely loss of multiple friends, his journey from substance use as a coping mechanism to sobriety, and the ultimate creation of his platform as a means to process his own grief. The discussion emphasizes the need for authentic connections and the role of technology in supporting emotional healing. Join us for this thought provoking and tender conversation.

Find John:
LinkedIn 

On IG @guardian_aingels

FaceBook

Online: www.guardianaingels.ai

Chapters

• Heart Check In
• Introducing John Kammer and His Journey
• Navigating Loss and Substance Use
• Turning Point: Choosing Sobriety
• The Intersection of Grief and Recovery
• Innovative Approaches to Grief and Healing
• The Emotional Impact of AI in Grief
• Navigating Criticism and Ethical Considerations
• Memory Preservation and Relationship Continuation
  

Keywords

grief, loss, emotional support, technology, AI, mental health, journaling, sobriety, masculinity, healing

In this heartfelt conversation, Andrea, Rebecca, and Deborah explore the complexities of grief, self-worth, and creativity. Deborah shares her personal journey through loss, the challenges of navigating the medical system, and the importance of self-love and support. The discussion highlights the healing power of creativity and connection, emphasizing that even in the depths of grief, there is potential for growth and transformation. The episode culminates in a reflection on how to honor the departed while embracing the journey of life.

Find Deborah:
On Instagram @deborah.weed

FaceBook

LinkedIn

Chapters

• Heartfelt Beginnings: Embracing Change and New Habits
• Celebrating Connection: Rituals and Community
• Navigating Grief: Deborah's Journey Through Loss
• The Quest for Answers: Medical Misdiagnoses and Pain
• Creativity as a Lifeline: Finding Purpose in Pain
• The Importance of Belief: Support Systems in Grief
• Polishing Souls: Lessons from Grief and Love
• The Power of Kindness: Small Acts of Compassion
• Reflections on Caregiving: Learning Through Loss
• The Legacy of Love: Lessons from a Partner's Journey
• Navigating Grief and Presence
• The Power of Music and Connection
• Balancing Grief and Creativity

Keywords
grief, self-worth, creativity, healing, loss, support, personal stories, emotional journey, resilience, empowerment

In this episode, Jessica Maguire, a TEDx speaker and nervous system educator, joins hosts Andrea and Rebecca to explore the intricate relationship between grief, emotional resilience, and the nervous system. Jessica shares her personal journey through grief, the impact of losing her brothers, and how these experiences have shaped her professional work in helping others navigate trauma and stress. The conversation delves into the science of neuroplasticity, the importance of understanding our body's responses, and the societal narratives around grief.

Find Jessica Online: https://www.jessicamaguire.com/

On Instagram @repairing_the_nervous_system

On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/repairingthenervoussystem/

On LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-maguire-vagus-nerve/

grief, emotional resilience, nervous system, neuroplasticity, trauma, stress, Jessica Maguire, TEDx, emotional capacity, neuroscience

• Grief is a complex emotional experience that affects the nervous system.
• Understanding neuroplasticity can aid in emotional regulation and healing.
• Societal narratives often misrepresent the grieving process.
• Personal experiences of loss can lead to professional growth and empathy.
• The nervous system plays a crucial role in how we process emotions.
• Grief doesn't follow a linear path and varies for each individual.
• Education on the nervous system can reduce the stigma around mental health.
• Emotional resilience involves accepting and moving through difficult emotions.
• Support systems are vital in navigating grief and trauma.
• Cultural expectations can hinder the natural grieving process.

• Introduction to Jessica Maguire
• Understanding Grief and the Nervous System
• Personal Journey Through Loss
• The Role of Neuroplasticity
• Societal Narratives and Grief
• Building Emotional Resilience
• Conclusion and Reflections

In this heartfelt conversation, Andrea and Rebecca talk with husband and wife director team Jason and Blue Gerber. Together they explore the intricate relationship between grief, art, and storytelling. The directors discuss their personal experiences with grief as well as the process of creating a documentary about artist Chelli Look, and the transformative power of forgiveness. The episode weaves through themes of healing, the impact of nature, and the importance of reflection, culminating in a deeper understanding of how art can serve as a medium for processing complex emotions. The documentary and the conversation explore the cyclical nature of grief and the hope that can emerge from it.

Connect with Jason and Blue

Online https://www.jasonandblue.com/

Instagram @jasonandblue

And watch Dusk Dawn https://www.dawnduskfilm.com/

Chapters

00:00
Heartfelt Connections: Morning Reflections

02:53
Introducing the Creative Duo: Jason and Blue

05:53
Navigating Grief: Personal Stories and Reflections

11:56
The Journey of Filmmaking: Discovering Shelley's Story

17:43
Forgiveness and Healing: A Deeper Dive into the Narrative

26:20
The Journey of Forgiveness

29:45
Understanding the Complexity of Forgiveness

32:26
The Role of Grief in Healing

36:20
The Filmmaking Experience: Listening and Processing

38:57
Shelley's Growth and Transformation in Italy

44:48
The Unexpected Twist in Filmmaking

45:24
The Intimacy of Storytelling

46:37
Finding Truth Through Grief

48:15
The Healing Power of Florence

50:04
Returning to Joy and Creation

51:58
The Journey of Self-Discovery

54:03
The Significance of Dawn and Dusk

57:59
Hope and Healing in Grief

59:20
Sharing the Film with the World

01:00:07
Personal Reflections on Grief

Keywords

grief, storytelling, documentary, forgiveness, healing, art, filmmaking, personal stories, emotional journey, relationships

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide and domestic violence - please listen with care.

In this deeply moving episode, we explore the intricate layers of grief and healing with our guest, Shavaun Scott, a seasoned psychotherapist and author. Shavaun shares her personal journey through profound loss, including the impact of her husband's revenge suicide, and how these experiences have shaped her professional path. Through candid conversations with hosts Andrea and Rebecca, we delve into the complexities of domestic violence, the societal narratives surrounding suicide grief, and the transformative power of storytelling. Join us as we uncover insights into navigating life's darkest moments and finding light in unexpected places.

Find Shavaun

Online: https://www.shavaunscott.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/P.ShavaunScott/

Instagram: @shavaunscott

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@slotherapist 

In this episode, Andrea and Rebecca interview Hannah Rumsey and explore the profound (and often unacknowledged) pain associated with the loss of a friend. Hannah shares how her experiences of being unmet and unseen in her grief taught her the importance of acknowledgment in the healing process. As Hannah moved through her grief, she decided to act on the absence she found when looking for support, creating a one woman play, a podcast, and now launching a community for support in friend loss. Hannah is committed to those suffering the disenfranchised grief of friend loss through her beautiful creation of Friends Missing Friends.


Takeaways

It's really hard to move through certain phases of grief if you're not witnessed.
Feeling stuck is common in unseen and unmet grief.
Acknowledgment is a key element of supporting grief.
Emotional disconnection in grief can lead to deeper pain.
Deep healing requires both acknowledgment and connection.


Connect:

Online: https://www.friendsmissingfriends.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsmissingfriends

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsmissingfriends

Meet Up with Friends Missing Friends https://www.meetup.com/friends-missing-friends/

Chapters

00:00 Heartfelt Reflections on Grief and Connection
00:52 The Healing Power of Storytelling

In this conversation, Andrea & Rebecca interview Tony Stewart, about his memoir Carrying the Tiger. Together they explore the complexities of grief, caregiving, and the emotional journey of living with a loved one's illness. They speak candidly about denial, the impact of missed moments, and the significance of support systems. This episode highlights the importance of acknowledging the caregiver's experience and the intertwining of love and grief that accompany them on the journey. 

Connect with Tony 

On Instagram @tonystewartny

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570889459153

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonystewart/

and Online https://www.tonystewartauthor.com/books

Keywords

grief, healing, family dynamics, nature, vulnerability, community, emotional complexity, cancer, personal stories, support, grief, caregiving, cancer journey, memoir, emotional support, love, loss, healing, relationships, personal growth

How do we make space for grief amidst the holiday season expectations of love and joy? Andrea and Rebecca explore this topic with Brianna Rose (creator of the Hack Your Nervous System deck) who shares insights on the nervous system, emotional regulation, and the importance of honoring what we're experiencing. The discussion includes practical tools and exercises for both adults and children to learn to be with our grief and explore practices that foster emotional resilience.

Takeaways

• Grief can coexist with joy during the holidays.
• It's important to honor and feel our emotions, including sadness.
• The nervous system plays a crucial role in how we process grief.
• Mind-body connection is essential for emotional regulation.
• There are tools to help facilitate that connection.
• Children can learn to regulate their emotions through co-regulation with adults.
• Nature can be a powerful source of healing and connection.
• Meeting your nervous system with compassion is key to healing.
• Grief work is a personal journey that can also involve community support.
• Creating a safe space for emotions allows for deeper healing.

Keywords

grief, healing, nervous system, emotional regulation, holidays, connection, Brianna Rose, mindfulness, self-care, mental health

Order Brianna's Nervous System Decks:

https://hackyournervoussystem.org/collections/all

Find Brianna on Instagram:

@ hackyournervoussystem 

For our two-year anniversary, Andrea chose this episode to re-release. This conversation on how trauma, resilience, and healing shape us resonates with Andrea's practices during Día de Muertos. We hope your heart finds some note of sweetness for your grief in this rebroadcast.

Original show notes:

In this episode, Andrea and Rebecca welcome Dr. Ramona Beltrán to talk about ancestral grief and the ways that we carry the trauma - and the love and strength - of those who came before us. Dr. Beltrán reminds us to invite complexity, be open to shifting in the ways we see ourselves and others, and to continue to evolve in our understanding of self, our ancestors, and one another.

For our two-year anniversary, we are re-releasing episodes that speak to our grief. Today's re-release is chosen by Rebecca. It's our conversation with poet, Andrea Gibson. 

Original episode description:

In this episode Andrea and Rebecca welcome poet and spoken word artist, Andrea Gibson to talk about love, mortality, embracing the chaos and when fear turned into grief, which became awe. Andrea shares their "stage 4 wisdom" and the three wind through hyperbaric chambers and the cosmos with laughter, insights, and of course, poetry. 

You can find Andrea Gibson's work at 
www.andreagibson.org
on Instagram @andreagibson
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AndreaGibsonPoetry/

More About Andrea:

Andrea Gibson is one of the most celebrated and influential spoken word artists of our time. Best known for their live performances, Gibson has changed the landscape of what it means to attend a “poetry show.” Gibson’s poems center around LGBTQ issues, spirituality, feminism, mental health and the dismantling of oppressive social systems. Andrea is the author of seven books, most recently “You Better Be Lightning.”