I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments.

Grief doesn’t just break hearts, it also exposes the parts of us that are strongest, rawest, and most alive. Lisa sits down with best-selling author, speaker, and grief coach Marie Alesi to talk about what happens when the worst phone call becomes real: Marie’s husband Rob leaves for a business trip and never comes home, passing from a brain aneurysm and leaving her to parent two young boys through shock, sorrow, and sudden change.

Marie shares the moment she finally falls apart after holding it together for the funeral and a major family milestone, and how that collapse leads her to an unexpected word for grief: empowerment. We talk about choosing love over fear, letting emotions move through the body, and why “doing it right” in grief is often just noise from the outside world. Marie also explains her “happiness filter” for decision-making and how creating new memories, including travel, gave their family space to breathe when home felt heavy with absence.

The conversation expands into what a true Celebration of Life can look like when it’s built on stories, laughter, music, and language that fits the person, not a template. Marie breaks down the services she offers through mariealesi.com, including ceremonies, one-on-one grief coaching, family bereavement sessions, and a grief literacy workshop designed for schools and teachers. If you’ve ever felt alone in grief, supported a grieving child, or wondered how to honor someone without being swallowed by sadness, you’ll find practical guidance and real-world hope here.

Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a softer landing, and leave a review with one takeaway you’re trying this week.

Support the show