As I Live and Grieve®

Send us some LOVE!

Summary:
Join us as Dr. Jackie Black returns, this time to help us understand how guilt impacts our grieving process. Guilt and shame are not the same - did you know that?

Episode Notes:
We discuss in detail how guilt and shame differ and how to change your mindset to be able to dissolve that guilt you feel. As we shed light on these terms, we ourselves heal along with you.

Dr. Jackie Black helps rekindle relationships with loving, amazing but crazy, busy small business owners so they are lovers again. Also for the last 30 years, Dr. Jackie has been actively supporting grieving partners and family members in the cancer community and the Alzheimer community, and was on the frontline of the AIDS Pandemic serving men who were ill, and the partners, family members and medical teams of those who died. Dr. Jackie also serves couples when one partner is living with life-threatening or chronic illness. As the founder of DrJackieBlack.com, she currently helps clients in 8 time zones, has delivered her monthly relationship Tip Sheet to men and women in 38 countries, and has been featured on hundreds of radio shows and podcasts around the world.

Contact:
www.asiliveandgrieve.com
[email protected]
Facebook: As I Live and Grieve
Instagram: @asiliveandgrieve
Twitter: @liveandgrieve

To Reach Dr. Jackie Black:
www.DrJackieBlack.com

Credits:
Music by Kevin MacLeod

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Bestselling author Hope Edelman discusses her latest book, The AfterGrief, Finding Your Way Along the Long Arc of Loss (pub. Oct. 2020) so we might better understand how grief impacts our lives even years beyond the death of a loved one.

Episode Notes:
We are becoming more accepting now that grief could feasibly last for the rest of our lives. Hope Edelman offers insight how our grief might change as time passes and how occasional upsurges can occur.

HOPE EDELMAN has been writing, speaking, and leading workshops and retreats in the bereavement field for more than 25 years. She was 17 when she lost her mother to breast cancer and 40 when her father died, events that inspired her to offer grief education and support to those who cannot otherwise receive it.

Her first book, Motherless Daughters, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and appeared on multiple bestseller lists worldwide. Her work has been translated into 14 languages and published in 11 countries. Hope is the author of seven additional nonfiction books, including Motherless Mothers and the memoir The Possibility of Everything. She was the recipient of the 2020 Community Educator Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and has won a Pushcart Prize for her creative nonfiction.

In addition to writing and speaking, she is a certified Martha Beck Life Coach and also leads nonfiction workshops to help writers tell, revisit, and revise their stories of loss. Hope lives and works in Los Angeles and Iowa City.

Contact Info:
www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Contact Hope:

www.hopeedelman.com

www.motherlessdaughters.com 

[email protected]

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary:
Marjorie Smith, LCSW, visits with us today to tell us about Hospice and how this program supports both the terminally ill patient and the family. 

Episode Notes:

After a brief history of Hospice, we learn the various components of this end of life care program and can better understand how it can impact grief by preparing family and supporting them after the death of their loved one. Hospice incorporates holistic practices and a diverse care team to provide dignity and better quality of life in the last months of life.

Marj graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and returned to Roberts to complete her Masters of Social Work.  While working in mental health as a therapist, she experienced Hospice as a family member when her father died with Hospice support.  This experience fueled her desire to work with the dying.  She transitioned to Hospice Social Work in 2010, where her role concentrated on supporting terminally ill patients as they navigated the last stage of their lives.  She was drawn to Hospice because of the focus on dignity and comfort of the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.  In 2019, she accepted the position of Executive Director of Aurora House Comfort Care Home in Spencerport, NY, a two bed Hospice House.  In her spare time, Marj also officiates wedding ceremonies as an ordained Minister.  

 Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Marj Smith : 

Website:  Aurora House of Western Monroe County  

Email:  [email protected] 

Phone :  585-617-4863

Facebook:  Aurora House (a Hospice House)

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary:
Today’s chat is with The Feelings Guy™, Archie Messersmith-Bunting, who helps us understand that everyone grieves and that grief is the reaction to a loss, whether related to the death of a loved one or to the death of our dreams. 

Episode Notes:

COVID has impacted everyone. We have lost our routines and most of our social enjoyment, though we have adapted as necessary to restrictions. Still, when someone asks how we are, “fine” is the popular response. We are not “fine.” We are grieving. This episode contains numerous nuggets that will help you understand how grief affects each of us. Yet in this conversation, we comfortably discuss grief and even laugh. You will, too.

 Using dynamism and authenticity, Archie champions mental health awareness worldwide at corporations and universities. He challenges people to rethink complicated and emotional topics like depression, suicide, alcohol and drug addiction. Through his company ArchieCares, LLC, he aims to reframe the narrative surrounding mental illness and addiction by facilitating honest and vulnerable conversations. He has provided leadership, mental health and alcohol & drug prevention education at corporations like Solenis and The Job Sauce, and college campuses including Clemson University, Iowa State University and The University of Southern California. Archie reaches individuals personally as he openly and honestly shares his own struggle with addiction and clinical depression. He weaves research of top therapists and addiction specialists into his storytelling, allowing audiences to understand the potential for loss and pain. Whether it's a conversation with corporate employees about mental health in the workplace or a student workshop on resilience, Archie delivers a vibrant mix of life lessons.

Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Archie, The Feelings Guy™ : 

Website:  archiecares.com  

Email:  [email protected] 

IG:  @the archstar

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary 

Our guest today is Melissa Pierce, author of Filled With Gold: A Widow’s Story (written with Christine Fadden).  

 Episode Notes: 

Melissa chats about the importance of self-care and advocates being your own best friend while grieving. She believes the brokenness of grieving relates to kintsugi, an ancient practice of repairing cracked vessels with a gold adhesive, thus making them whole again, but also far more beautiful. 

Melissa was widowed overnight at the age of 44 when her husband Dave didn’t wake up on a cold Saturday morning in 2011. As a solo-parent to their two sons, Melissa knew she had to take care of herself first so she could care for her kids - they needed her support more than ever - so she began the work of processing her deep grief and practicing radical self-care to move forward. Melissa has rebuilt her life and established - for the very first time - a deeper knowledge of herself. She is a testament to trusting her gut and standing behind her choices.     

 Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Melissa: 

www.filledwithgold.org 

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/filled_with_gold 

www.facebook.com/filledwithgold 

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary:
Join us today as we discuss how various beliefs can impact the grief process, especially as plans are being made for funeral or other memorial events.

Episode Notes:
Belief in God, higher power or non-belief is an individual choice and really makes little difference in our personal grief journeys. However, when people come together immediately after a death to plan a funeral or other event to memorialize or celebrate the deceased, differing individual beliefs can pose a major stressor for all. Rev. Jennifer Green, of Hilton United Methodist Church, chats with us today on this topic and includes some thoughts on creative ways to involve alternative components.

Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Rev. Green: 

Website:  Hilton United Methodist Church  

Email:  [email protected] 

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary 

Today’s episode is Dedicated to Madelyn Elizabeth Webster, daughter of our guest, Crystal Webster. Maddie was in her mama’s arms when she died the very day after her birth. 

Episode Notes: 
Grief just sucks. Crystal shares in her straightforward, candid manner the gamut of emotions experienced with the loss of a newborn, as well the reality faced in living ‘childless not by choice.’ 

 Crystal Webster is the founder and Chief Solace Officer of Sharing Solace, author of Confessions of a Griever: Turning a Hot Mess into an Haute Message (Laughable Lessons for When Life Just Sucks), and most importantly she is Maddie’s mama. With Maddie foremost in her mind, she created Sharing Solace, an innovative program to honor and memorialize a loved one while at the same time supporting you in your grief journey.

Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Crystal Webster: 

Website:  SharingSolace.com  

Email: [email protected] 

Facebook:  /SharingSolaceLLC

Instagram:  @SharingSolace

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary 

Our guest today is Michele Allman, LMSW. 

Episode Notes: 

COVID has turned our lives upside down. For those who have lost loved ones, whether from the virus or another source, the restrictions imposed during this pandemic have complicated the grief journey for many. Michele Allman, LMSW, in Rochester, NY, speaks to how the presence of COVID and restrictions have impacted the local grieving community. 

Michele Allman, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker), is the Bereavement Coordinator for UR Medicine Home Care and Hospice. She has worked in Hospice for the past fourteen years, twelve of them as the Bereavement Coordinator. She facilitates grief support groups and meets with families and individuals on a 1:1 basis to offer support and guidance through the grieving process. In addition, she is the cofounder and director of an annual three-day children’s summer bereavement camp, Camp Heartstrings/Camp Dreams. Michele is a Master Level Social Worker and completed her degree at Syracuse University.     

Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary:
Our guest today is Dr. Jackie Black who has supported grieving partners and family members as well as those with a terminal diagnosis. Today’s topic will help many better understand what help might be needed after the death of a loved one.

Episode Notes:
After suffering a loss, Dr. Jackie feels everyone should be encouraged to find a Bereavement Group in which to participate. “It is the only place you don’t feel different than everyone else.” Therapy is indicated, she states, only if there is a clear psychiatric diagnosis. She offers insight into her recommendation, even including suggestions for friends and family to comfortably broach the subject.

Jackie Black, Ph.D., BCC, helps rekindle relationships with loving, amazing but crazy, busy small business owners so they are lovers again. Also, for the last 30 years, Dr. Jackie has been actively supporting grieving partners and family members in the cancer community and the Alzheimer community, and was on the frontline of the AIDS Pandemic serving men who were ill, and the partners, family members and medical teams of those who died. Dr. Jackie also serves couples when one partner is living with life-threatening or chronic illness.

As the founder of DrJackieBlack.com, she currently helps clients in 8 time zones, has delivered her monthly relationship Tip Sheet to men and women in 38 countries, and has been featured on hundreds of radio shows and podcasts around the world.

Contact:
www.asiliveandgrieve.com
[email protected]
Facebook: As I Live and Grieve
Instagram: @asiliveandgrieve
Twitter: @liveandgrieve

To Reach Dr. Jackie Black:
www.DrJackieBlack.com

Schedule a complimentary call with Dr. Jackie and explore how she can help. One conversation might change your life forever: www.TalkToDrJackie.com

Credits:
Music by Kevin MacLeod
    

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. 

Send us some LOVE!

Summary 

Our guest today is Gary Roe, who shares with us 8 Tips to Handle Holiday Grief. 

 Episode Notes: 

Gary Roe itemizes his 8 Tips to Handle Holiday Grief and adds his personal experience to help others contemplate their own situations and feel supported and a bit more in control of this frantic period, now even more stressful with the pandemic. 

 Gary Roe is the multiple award-winning author of more than a dozen books including Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart, Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child, and Aftermath: Picking Up the Pieces After a Suicide. Gary’s books have won three international book awards and have been named as finalists eight times. He has been featured on Dr. Laura, The Daily Positive, Wellness, BeliefNet, Thrive Global, and other national media. A trusted and compassionate voice in grief recovery, Gary currently serves as a hospice chaplain and grief counselor for Hospice Brazos Valley in central Texas. Known for his engaging style and sense of humor, he is also a popular speaker at a wide variety of venues. 

Contact: 

www.asiliveandgrieve.com 

[email protected] 

Facebook:  As I Live and Grieve 

Instagram:  @asiliveandgrieve 

To Reach Gary Roe: 

Website:  https://www.garyroe.com/ 

Credits: 

Music by Kevin MacLeod 

Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.